GREENSBORO, N.C. – He already knew he won when he stepped in the circle for the last time. It became easier to fall in love with the moment, to get caught up in what already happened. So by the time Minisink Valley’s Alec Faldermeyer took his final attempt in the hammer throw, he had become a spectator.
“I was like, I’m a national champion,” he said. “Next thing I knew I was watching myself throw and the hammer was already in the air.”
That toss of 227 feet, 5 inches proved his best throw of the season as he won the hammer throw at the Nike Outdoor Nationals yesterday at North Carolina A&T University. He said the key was for him to stay calm during the competition. If he got too psyched up bad things could happen and even worse he could blow a gold medal that was his to lose.
“Being relaxed is everything,” he said. “It’s difficult for me. That’s why that first throw was everything for me.”
Faldermeyer took a three-turn approach instead of his usual four spins to insure a safe and solid mark. He ended up with a throw of 214-7, which would have won the competition. Michael Gama (Wakefield, R.I.) finished second at 206-0. Only indoor NIN and NSIC champ Connor McCollough (Chaminade, Calif.) has thrown farther than Faldermeyer. Without McCollough, Faldermeyer knew that if he could just keep his nerves together he could stand at the top of the medal podium.
“I knew that if anything, I was going to beat myself,” he said. “I knew that if I did well that I could win.”
While Faldermeyer’s performance came as no surprise, Warwick Valley managed a stunning race in the 4x800 finishing second in 7:44.85 with Dave Dewan (1:56.9), Charlie Armand (1:55.6), Tim Luthin (1:56.9) and Dan Ramirez (1:54.8).
Warwick switched its normal running order by leading off Dewan, the lone senior, in place of Ramirez, who moved to anchor. Part of the reason was because Ramirez injured his hip in practice on Monday and Warwick Valley coach Mike Potter didn’t want to risk a poor start. Ramirez said there was another reason as well though.
“To tell you the truth, the reason Coach anchored me today is because he said when I run leadoff, I run in a skirt,” the junior said.
But there was nothing prissy about the way Ramirez anchored. While Morris Hills (N.J.) ran away with the national title, Ramirez never backed off his chase on Morris Hills anchor Liam Tansey and recorded a split five seconds faster than he’s ever run a half mile.
“I just wanted to push myself,” he said. My legs felt good. It’s my first nationals and I really wanted to give a good impression.”
Saratoga Springs junior Madalayne Smith has done just that all season despite a disappointing fourth-place finish in the 100 hurdles. Smith finished in 13.90 after running 13.84 in the trials.
“I just got out the start slow,” she said. “I’m disappointed. I’m really, really upset. It’s just those little things. I could have gotten out better. I think I just got too caught up. I got so caught up in the moment that I didn’t focus on the things I needed to. I should’ve focused on my start.”
Megdar Evers senior Janice Jackson ran a personal-best 13.99 in the trials but struggled in the final and finished seventh in 14.22. New Rochelle just missed the podium as well in the boys 4x800, finishing in 7:57.34. Iona Prep was eighth in 7:50.27.
Cornwall’s Aisling Cuffe placed fifth in the 2 mile in 10:25.43.
By Christopher Hunt