Haley Showalter dominated the Great Southwest hammer earlier this summer with a PR throw of 193-4. Photo by Alan Versaw.
If the name of Haley Showalter isn't all that familiar outside of Colorado, that would probably have to do with the fact that the hammer throw may rank as track and field's most underpublicized event, and especially so at the high school level.
Only Rhode Island makes the hammer throw a state-sanctioned event, so if a high schooler wants to compete in the hammer throw anywhere else, he or she must find or engineer those opportunities. Amazingly, though having just completed her junior year of high school, Haley Showalter has been making and finding those opportunities for three summers.
And, she's been steadily improving as she's gone--going from 131-4 after her freshman year, to 166-4 after her junior year, to a whopping 193-4 this summer. Showalter owns the top high school mark in the nation this year and ranks on the all-time US high school list with that throw.
Showalter doesn't normally restrict herself to the hammer. She's accomplished in the discus (155-6) and shot put (41-3) as well. But the hammer has become her signature throw, and the one for which she qualified for World Juniors. Showalter admits, "I'm used to competing in two events in almost every meet I've ever competed, but the meets I only throw one event I do think it is a little easier to focus."
She will likely need all the focus she can muster at World Juniors. And Showalter is well aware of that.
"I've never gone into a meet ranked as low as I am for the World Championships, so I'm mentally preparing myself to really be able to bring my best possible performance to the field. I'm very honored and excited to have the chance to compete for the USA."
Despite Showalter's success, success in the hammer throw is more traditionally a European thing than a North American thing in international competitions. Showalter's best mark of 193-4 would have placed 10th in the 2012 World Juniors. But, you don't move up the ladder by condeding things at every turn. This month's World Juniors represents an opportunity to draw on the kind of event adrenaline Showalter has never known before.
Still, Showalter realizes it's not all about adrenaline, "I feel like I'm many reps away from everything going right in a throw right now, but I believe that if I get a really solid throw with some good speed and balance and I hit the finish well, I can throw it over 60 meters." To put that into perspective, only four US high school females have thrown over 60 meters--ever.
World Juniors will be Showalter's first international meet in USA colors, something Showalter admits comes with "a little bit of uncertainty, anxiety, and excitement." As it should.
But, it won't be entirely new for Showalter. One of the advantages of being part of the host nation team for World Juniors is that Showalter has had opportunity to compete before at Hayward Field.
"I think it does help to have already competed at Hayward field, because I know what the circle feels like, and this will be my third time competing there."
Her weekly routine as World Juniors draws near involves four to five days a week of throwing and another two to three of lifting. Ten months of her year are devoted to sharpening her throwing skills. She gave up basketball over a year ago with the realization that "I had way more talent and potential with throwing than I would ever have with basketball."
Right now, there are a few people pleased that she made that decision, plus a few more hoping that the third visit to Hayward proves to be the charm.
Haley Showalter athlete profile
