Panezich rated No. 5 in nation

Shot-putter Nick Panezich of the University of Tennessee track team is peaking just at the right time.

And that strong recent improvement could mean some long throws and a high finish at the NCAA Division I indoor track and field championship slated today and Saturday in College Station, Tex.

Panezich, a 6-foot-2, 275-pound senior weight thrower from Poland and Springfield High, enters his first NCAA meet with the fifth-longest shot put in the nation this year and three straight wins for the Vols of Knoxville.

He achieved that No. 4 feat when he qualified for the NCAA meet with a throw of 63 feet, 11‚Ñ4 inches that broke the school indoor record at the Virginia Tech Challenge on Feb. 20-21.

Panezich’s throw was the best in a field of 28 throwers and broke by 4 feet the school record of 59 feet, 11‚Ñ4 inches that lasted about 23 years after being set by Pat Reid in 1986 — the year Panezich was born.

And the school-record toss also was Panezich’s career-best, bettering his previous longest throw by 2 feet and lifting him into the No. 4 spot in Tennessee’s all-time ranking, which also includes outdoor throws.

Panezich was optimistic entering the SEC meet after improving his career-bests three times in five meets this year.

“I’ve been fortunate to have the type of season I’m having,” said Panezich, who has won two letters and is majoring in sport management.

“I’ve had a couple of big throws, and I feel good about what I can do at the SEC and NCAA meets. I’m [encouraged] for my progress and looking forward to competing against top competition in the next few weeks.”

Tennessee coach Bill Webb had high praise for Panezich after his record-breaking throw, and for his recent development.

“With our program’s great history, it’s special anytime an athlete claims a school record,” said Webb. “Nick is continuing to improve every week, and he’s improving from one throw to the next during meets. His consistency is much improved over last season, and he’s put himself in a position to compete for a conference title and to score at the NCAA meet.”

Panezich will have a family cheering section for him at the NCAA meet.

“We will be there. This will be the first time we will be going to the nationals,” said Panezich’s mother, Sandy, who will be accompanied by husband Stan. “We’ve seen him compete before in college, and we go to as many meets as we can. He is a senior this year so we want to make every effort to see him compete.”

Sandy said that her son, who was coached by Don Evans Jr. while at Springfield, is “on a roll right now. He won at New Balance in Manhattan before winning at Virginia Tech and the SEC meet, so he is on a roll with 3-for-3 now. He won first at New Balance and that started it all.”

Panezich’s record-breaking win was his second in a row after he won the shot put at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational in New York, N.Y. on Feb. 6, with a then-career-best throw of 61 feet, 11‚Ñ2 inches.

He continued his roll with his third straight victory at the Southeastern Conference Championships on Feb. 28 in Lexington, Ky., with a toss of 60 feet, 101‚Ñ2 inches in a field of 15, and was named to the All-SEC first team.

He fired the 60-101‚Ñ2 on his first throw, then waited until others in the field tried to outdistance him unsuccessfully as he eventually prevailed by 71‚Ñ2 inches over his nearest rival.

The only other time Panezich has scored in the SEC meet was in the outdoor discus in 2008.

Panezich’s other career bests: hammer throw (193-9), No. 9 in school history; weight throw (59-101‚Ñ4), No. 11; discus (184-3) and outdoor shot put (56-91‚Ñ2).

XJohn Kovach covers colleges for The Vindicator. E-mail him at kovach@vindy.com.