BRODE BACK ON TRACK

Canfield senior standout Dustin Brode to compete for state indoor titles this weekend

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

Canfield senior Dustin Brode had just won a national championship in his favorite event in a facility about a 10-minute train ride from the most prestigious university in the world — which just so happens to be his future school — and all he could think about was the fact that he hadn’t set a personal best.

“When people put things in perspective, I sat back and realized I accomplished something special,” said Brode, a Harvard University recruit who finished first in the shot put with a throw of 64 feet, 101‚Ñ2 inches at last weekend’s Nike Indoor Nationals in Boston. “After I thought about it, I was tremendously happy.”

That attitude is a bit of a mixed blessing for Brode, who wouldn’t be such a successful thrower if he weren’t so easily dissatisfied. It also explains why he was actually happier about finishing second in the weight throw last weekend by setting a personal best in the event at 70-3.

Because, ultimately, Brode’s biggest competition is himself.

“I just prefer to get a personal record as opposed to winning,” he said.

Brode will try to do both at Saturday’s state indoor meet, where he’s the defending Division I champion in the weight throw. He placed third in the shot last March, then won a state outdoor title in the event in June.

Not satisfied, Brode opted not to play football his senior year — he felt playing football as a junior set him back strength-wise — to instead focus on improving his form. He trained with the Youngstown Throws Elite Club last summer and spent the fall inside the weight room.

“He’s been extremely motivated these past two years,” said Canfield throwing coach Nick Wagner. “His parents cleared the schedule and he’s been throwing every weekend.

“That’s been the biggest thing. His dedication.”

Brode’s personal-best throw of 66-6 has him seeded first in the shot entering Saturday’s competition but he’s seeded second in the weight throw behind Fitch senior George Thomas (71-01‚Ñ4). Thomas is serving the same role that Boardman senior Corey Linsley did last year, giving Brode an area thrower to push him.

Brode is also getting a push from history; he’s hoping to break the state indoor shot put record of 67-31‚Ñ2.

Regardless of what happens, Brode will immediately shift his attention to the outdoor season, which begins in less than two weeks.

“If it were up to me, he’d take a week off, but knowing him, he’ll want to just get right out there,” said Wagner.

Brode admits the wear and tear is a concern. He gets a lot of “small, tweaking injuries” and has to take things easy at practice.

“Throwing all-out puts so much force on your body, you can only take so many throws,” he said. “I have to wait to really kick it up a notch on game day.”