Track & Field

Briefly contrast your hardest season to date, with your best season. What were the basic differences?

Health is the Key: Contrasting Seasons Reveals Crucial Difference

This is a fantastic question. When I first read it, my initial response was, on my best seasons, I was happier, I enjoyed the process more, etc, etc. When I took a deeper dive into it, I realized that all of it centered around health, right? When I compare my hardest season to my best season, my best seasons, I was healthy. My hardest seasons, I dealt with injuries through and throughout the season, overcoming. There were seasons based around overcoming and triumph, etc. And not enjoying the process as much. I would say the basic difference was, on my best season, I was really making sure that I got 8 hours of sleep. I was making sure that on a daily basis, I was hydrated. I was making sure that I was on top of my massage, and my chiropractic appointments, and making sure I foam rolled, and making sure I stretched. All of those small things that helped keep me in the game on a consistent basis, are what I would say made me achieve my best season. In comparison to some of my worst seasons, where a lot of highs and lows, so the training might have been great. I might have had good competitions, but I wasn't able to sustain that level of performance because my recovery did not match the level of output I put in my training.

The difference between my best and worst seasons was that I was more focused on recovery in my best season, making sure I was well-rested, hydrated, getting massages and chiropractic treatments, foam rolling and stretching.

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When contrasting my hardest season to my best season, the basic differences revolve around health. In my best seasons, I was healthy and able to fully enjoy the process. However, during my hardest seasons, I dealt with injuries throughout, which made it a season of overcoming and triumph, but with less enjoyment.

The key difference lies in the focus on health and self-care. In my best season, I prioritized getting 8 hours of sleep, staying hydrated, and consistently attending massage, chiropractic, foam rolling, and stretching sessions. These small but important actions helped me stay in top form consistently and contributed to my best season.

On the other hand, during my worst seasons, there were many highs and lows. While my training might have been great and I had good competitions, I couldn't sustain that level of performance because my recovery didn't match the output I put into my training.

In summary, the basic differences between my hardest and best seasons were the level of attention I gave to my health and recovery, which ultimately impacted my overall performance and enjoyment of the process.

What do you love the most about shot put?

The Individuality and Power of Shot Put: A True Sports Marvel

Ah, my first question. What do I love most about the shot put? Honestly, this answer is two part. For me, growing up, playing a lot of team sports, I played football, I played basketball. Shot put for me was always that thing that allowed me to be a true individual. I didn't have to rely on 10 other people to do their job. I didn't have to rely on somebody else to pass me the ball. If I went out and I studied and I did my work and I worked hard, I was able to see that direct correlation translate over into my results. And that type of small thing like that really drove me nuts in a positive way. It really allowed me to really want to work hard. The other side of it is, shot put to me is a true representation of the combination of speed, power, and analytics. I'm a big stats nerd so I go back and watch a lot of film. So that combination of being able to be analytical and be powerful and be fast, that's what shot put is to me and that's why I love it.

I love shotput because it allows me to work hard and see the direct results of my efforts. It also combines speed, power, and analytics, which appeals to my nerdy side.

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What I love most about shot put is twofold. Firstly, coming from a background of team sports like football and basketball, shot put allowed me to be an individual athlete. I didn't have to rely on others to perform their roles or pass me the ball. Instead, my results directly correlated with the effort and hard work I put in. This sense of personal responsibility and the drive it instilled in me was incredibly motivating.

Secondly, shot put represents the perfect combination of speed, power, and analytics. As someone who enjoys studying statistics and watching film, I appreciate the analytical aspect of the sport. At the same time, shot put requires a tremendous display of strength and speed. This combination of skills and the challenge it presents is what truly captivates me and fuels my love for shot put.

Throwers: Unlock Your Potential with Running

Should throwers run? Short answer, yes, absolutely. Long answer, yes, absolutely. I definitely recommend running for throwers. I don't really recommend anything over a mile, I think that's a bit excessive, but everything up to a mile I think is pretty good for just general health and cardiovascular purposes. When you think about the throws, on a high school level or a small level, people usually send just the biggest kids over that, you know, can't run that they think or can't high jump or long jump, etc. and they just put them in the throws. But when you think about the highest level of our sport, the throwers are usually some of the strongest, most explosive athletes that we have. So I definitely recommend running because I believe running is one of the best ways to train ballistic movement. So short sprints, 10-meter sprints, 20-meter sprints, 30-meter sprints, anything with high turnover, getting your feet up and down over and over and over again, I think really translates over to dynamic power and usually longer throws, so I definitely recommend running for throwers.

Yes, I recommend running for throwers, short sprints up to a mile are best for general health and cardio purposes. Running helps train ballistic movement which can lead to longer throws.

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Throwers should definitely incorporate running into their training regimen. Running, particularly shorter distances up to a mile, is beneficial for general health and cardiovascular fitness. While some may assume that throwers are solely focused on strength and power, the highest level of the sport actually showcases throwers as some of the strongest and most explosive athletes.

Running is an excellent way to train ballistic movements, which are essential for throwers. Short sprints, such as 10-meter, 20-meter, and 30-meter sprints, help develop high turnover and quick footwork. This translates to improved dynamic power and often leads to longer throws.

In summary, running is highly recommended for throwers as it contributes to overall fitness, cardiovascular health, and the development of explosive athletic abilities.

Have you ever taken a risk where it really paid off?

Risk pays off: Olympian's leap of faith reaps Olympic glory

Have I ever taken a risk that really paid off? Yes, indeed I have. Back in 2016, as I was getting ready for the Olympic trials to try to make my first Olympic team, at the time I was training at my alma mater, Penn State, where I had just graduated in December of 2015. At this point, it was about March, and I was in my training and something was off. I was having some technical issues. I wasn't really feeling like I was getting to where I needed to go. And I reached out to a world-renowned coach, Art Vanegas, who was coaching another one of our Penn State graduates, who was one of the best shoppers in the world at the time. And I explained to him my problem. I said, listen, I keep hitting the toe board. Things just aren't connecting, man. Can you help me? And he said, yeah, I can help you. I said, listen, don't tell me that, because if you say you can help me, I'll get on a plane and I'll be out there Monday. He said he could help me. I was only supposed to be out there for two weeks. At this point, it's the middle of April. After my two weeks was up, I said, this is where I need to be, man. I think I'm gonna stay here and just try to train here all the way up until Olympic trials. The Olympic trials are July 1st. And I didn't really know what I was doing. I didn't really have much money. I just came out of school, like literally had like $250 in my bank account. But I'll say all this to say, I went to the Olympic trials, had a two-foot personal best, big breakout performance, and I qualified for my first Olympic team. So take that risk.

In 2016, I took a risk and moved to another city to work with a world-renowned coach on my shooting technique in preparation for the Olympic trials. The risk paid off and I had a two-foot personal best which qualified me for my first Olympic team.

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Have I ever taken a risk that paid off? Absolutely. In 2016, as I prepared for the Olympic trials to make my first Olympic team, I was facing technical issues in my training. Feeling stuck, I reached out to renowned coach Art Vanegas, who was coaching another successful athlete from my alma mater, Penn State.

I explained my problem to Art, expressing my frustration and asking for help. When he confirmed that he could assist me, I made a bold decision. I told him that if he could help me, I would get on a plane and be there by Monday. He assured me that he could indeed help.

Originally, I planned to stay with Art for just two weeks. However, by the middle of April, I realized that this was the right place for me. I made the decision to continue training with him until the Olympic trials, which were scheduled for July 1st.

At that point, I didn't have much money. I had just graduated from school and had around $250 in my bank account. But despite the uncertainty, I took the risk and committed to training with Art.

The outcome? At the Olympic trials, I achieved a personal best by two feet and had a breakthrough performance. As a result, I qualified for my first Olympic team.

This experience taught me the value of taking risks and following my instincts, even when the path is uncertain. Sometimes, those risks can lead to incredible rewards.

What technique is better for a young shot-putter: the glide or rotational style?

Start with the glide: a solid foundation for young shot-putters

This question is pretty controversial, or it's becoming more controversial today with the prominence of the rotational shot put in the senior level of our sport. But to me, I think that the glide is the best style for young throwers to start with. Reason being, I look at the rotational throw as a rotational throw in the beginning, but I think it gets linear towards the finish. I'll explain it at a different time. But I think there are a lot of small mechanics that you learn in the glide as a beginner. Delivery, just power, force application, those type of things that you learn in the glide, I think really set the table for a very powerful and explosive rotational movement as you develop in the sport. I think a lot of people who start with the rotation and they don't learn some of those basic things from the glide, they tend to pull off the shot put. Their delivery does not tend to be as refined. So I definitely recommend starting with the glide, teaching those basic movements, the basic power transfer, and then learning the rotation as they get more comfortable with the event.

I think the Glide is the best style for young throwers to start with as it teaches important fundamentals that form the foundation of a powerful and explosive rotational delivery.

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The controversy between the glide and rotational style in shot put is prominent, especially at the senior level of the sport. However, for young shot-putters, I believe that starting with the glide technique is the best approach.

In my opinion, the rotational throw begins as a rotational movement but becomes more linear towards the finish. The glide technique, on the other hand, allows young throwers to learn important mechanics such as delivery, power, and force application. These fundamental aspects set the foundation for a powerful and explosive rotational movement as they progress in the sport.

Starting with the glide technique helps beginners develop refined delivery and prevents them from pulling off the shot put. By mastering the basic movements and power transfer in the glide, young shot-putters can then transition to the rotational style with more comfort and confidence.

Therefore, I recommend starting with the glide technique, teaching the essential movements and power transfer, and gradually introducing the rotational style as they become more proficient in the event.

In such a competitive atmosphere, how do you form relationships with other athletes?

High-level athletes find unexpected kinship with rivals

At the highest highest level of sport it is obviously very competitive very very competitive That's what makes it great But when you get to that level you start competing at the high level what you realize is that the athletes are competing against You got a lot in common and most times they understand you better than your own family. They understand you the most They understand the sacrifices you make they understand how much money you may or may not be making They understand you might be struggling with your bills. They understand that you're pushing for a dream That's your family may not understand they understand the work you put in they understand the time you spend at the chiropractor The time you spend on a massage table those people you're competing against they understand what it takes to get to that level So when you get there, there's a level of appreciation for the other people to have achieved and also most times at least in track and field You spend a lot of time in foreign countries where you really get a chance to sit down with these athletes and talk and get To know their stories get to know their background and that's when you start to realize that These people that you're competing against that you've been trying to beat all year. You got a lot more in common than you think

At the highest level of sport, athletes are very competitive, but also understand each other's sacrifices and struggles. They appreciate each other more than their own family and often spend time in foreign countries to get to know each other's stories.

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In a highly competitive atmosphere, forming relationships with other athletes can be challenging. However, at the highest level of sport, athletes realize that despite the intense competition, they share a lot in common. These athletes understand each other better than anyone else, often more than their own families.

They understand the sacrifices made, the financial struggles, and the pursuit of a dream that may be difficult for others to comprehend. They appreciate the hard work, the time spent on recovery and therapy, and the dedication required to reach that level of competition.

In sports like track and field, athletes often spend significant time in foreign countries, providing opportunities to connect with competitors on a deeper level. These interactions allow athletes to learn about each other's stories and backgrounds, leading to a realization that they have more in common than they initially thought.

Despite the competitiveness, there is a level of appreciation and respect for the achievements of fellow athletes. These shared experiences and understanding create a foundation for forming relationships with other athletes, even in the midst of a highly competitive atmosphere.

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Darrell Hill is an American track and field athlete and Nike-sponsored competitor. Hill won the US Shot Put title at the 2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and holds the Penn State school record indoors at 20.51 m (67 ft 3+1⁄4 in). Joe Kovacs holds the outdoor record 21.02 m (68 ft 11+1⁄2 in) just ahead of Hill's 20.86 m (68 ft 5+1⁄4 in). On July 1, 2016, at the 2016 Olympic Trials, Hill threw a new personal best of 21.63 m (70 ft 11+1⁄2 in) to finish third and qualify for the 2016 Olympics.  He trained with USOC coach Art Venegas through 2017 and is now coached by Ryan Whiting of Desert High Performance in Phoenix, Arizona. Hill previously competed for the University of Houston during his freshman year before transferring to Penn State University. He placed fourth in the 2012 USA Junior Track and Field Championships at the University of Indiana, Bloomington.