Last Wednesday was our third track meet of the year and our first home meet against Willamette High. Even though the weather conditions were less than ideal, my throwers did an excellent job and several threw personal bests that day. I've really been enjoying the coaching process and have a great group of kids to work with. I have a strong background in coaching. My very first job was coaching gymnastics to kids ages 4-12 and I've assistant coached for the University of Oregon Track and Field camp for two years now. Though I have a very young team, they are all showing great improvement and consistency with each meet. We have four more meets before Districts where I hope to have some athletes qualify to compete at the State meet. I'll keep you posted on our progress as we get closer to Districts.
-Brittany

COMPLETING INDOOR SEASON

As anyone who has lived in the Northwest knows, the cold winter months will drive most of us inside. For track and field this has created two seasons; indoor and outdoor. Though it would be fun to throw a hammer over 200 feet indoors this is not quite a realistic possibility. Therefore, we long distance throwers throw a much heavier and much shorter implement, called the weight throw, to reduce throwing length and injury to spectators. While the outdoor hammer only weighs 8.8 pounds (4 kilos) the women's weight weighs 20 pounds and has a handle attached to a heavy ball with no wire. Though the weight throw does not travel as far as my hammer, I use the same technique and the added weight of the indoor implement only makes me stronger at holding positions in the hammer. During this past indoor season I had the pleasure of competing in two meets at the University of Washington in Seattle. Though I am no longer a collegiate athlete, many meets are considered "open" and allow post collegiate athletes to get competition marks in for US Indoor Nationals. These two meets were my first time competing for Team XO Track Club as you can see by my new jersey. Team XO is a track club that trains in Eugene and consists mostly of graduated athletes from the University of Oregon. I look forward to the outdoor season and better weather when I open up at the Oregon Invite at Hayward Field in Eugene on April 21st.

-Brittany

TUESDAYS IN TRACK TOWN

As I was driving down Agate St. last Tuesday evening, I could see the glow coming off of the track. The new outdoor lighting was so intense that it seemed as if daytime light forgot to leave Historical Hayward Field. It was very exciting! I was just attending the very first "Tuesdays in Track Town" meeting held at Hayward Field. This monthly forum is intended to share information regarding various track and field topics, and specifically the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. Over thirty people showed up from all walks of life. U of O track coaches, local high school coaches, track athletes, track fans, and media were all there to gain information, ask questions, and "talk track". I was really glad that I had the opportunity to attend. U of O Head Track and Field Coach, Vin Lananna, gave a short briefing on all of the facility improvements for the 2008 Olympic Trials. As a hammer thrower, I was glad to hear that temporary seating would be added around the hammer cage to seat up to 800-1000 spectators. Though the hammer will not be thrown inside the track (but just off to the side) the men's and women's hammer competition will take place during prime time television hours and also be broadcasted on the new big screen result boards on the track. The upcoming Olympic Trials in Eugene will be receiving more that eleven hours of live TV coverage (more than any Olympic Trials before). A direct course of action is taking place to make these 2008 Trials the most media covered, spectator friendly, and the largest promoter for the sport of Track and Field. I think that "Tuesdays in Track Town" is a great way for Track fans and community to come together and rekindle the fire that has kept Eugene known across the nation as Track City. I can't wait for next months meeting. I hope to see you there!
~Brittany Hinchcliffe

TRACK & FIELD HAMMER THROW FACTS

Some fun hammer facts for you!!

-The Women's competition outdoor hammer weighs 4 kilos (8.8 pounds)

- The Women's competition indoor weight throw weighs 20 pounds

- The Women's American record in the Outdoor hammer Throw is 242'4"

- The Women's World Record in the Outdoor Hammer Throw is 255'7"

- The first women's Olympic hammer competition was in the year 2000

- The World Record in the Women's Hammer throw was reset three times last year

Coaching in Track and Field

The relationship between coach and athlete is very unique. Many elite athletes spend more time with their coach on a daily basis than any other person, including close friends and family. Successful coach and athlete relationships create success in athletics. I have had many coaches throughout my life and each one has helped, in one way or another, get me to where I am today. It is as important to believe in your coach as it is for your coach to believe in you. I know this for fact as I have had the honor of participating in this positive and fruitful dynamic first hand. When I transfered to the University of Oregon from Washington State University, I finally found a coach who could provide that for me. I received what I consider to be my first positive and rewarding coaching in Track and Field from Lance Deal (far left in the photo) for three years while I competed for the Ducks at the University of Oregon. Coach Deal not only mentored his athletes on the track but off the track as well. I had many successes in my sport, as did other athletes, while training with Coach Deal. Post collegiately, I am now being trained by Lance Deal's coach, Stewart Togher (standing center in the photo) and am honored to have the opportunity to train with a coach that has had so much success in the sport of Hammer Throwing. Stewart Togher coached Lance Deal to a silver medal in the 1996 Olympics and helped coach Koji Mourofushi (far right in the photo) from Japan to win a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics. I currently train with one of the top American male throwers in the nation and 2004 Olympian, James Parker. I am overwhelmed on a daily basis with the knowledge Stewart has to offer in the Hammer Throw. I currently am coaching at a local High School for the first time and have found the world of coaching to be very rewarding. I am very excited to see my athletes excel in Track and Field and in life just as the coaches in my life have done for me.

~Brittany Hinchcliffe