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is the frosting on the cake for Cardinals' Luehmann
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SMU Qualifiers
Amanda Weinmann Shot put Ashley Luehmann Javelin, shot put Megan Mason High jump |
So when the outdoor season kicked off at the Ripon Red Hawk Invitational in early April, Luehmann was determined to make up for lost time.
Which is exactly what she did.
Luehmann broke the school record — and provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division III Outdoor National Championships — in the shot put at that Red Hawk Invitational.
And hasn't let up since.
The Cardinal senior — who scored 1,438 points during her illustrious four-year career that including three All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selections — extended her collegiate track and field season by a week, uncorking throws of 42.99 meters in the javelin and 13.23 in the shot put to earn a pair of spots in this weekend's NCAA Division III Outdoor National Championships.
"I'm feeling a little nervous, because I have never been to nationals before," said Luehmann, who will be joined by teammates Amanda Weinmann (Rochester, Minn.) and Megan Mason (Rochester, Minn.) on the nation's ultimate stage. "But, at the same time, I am really excited, because this has been a goal of mine since I was a freshman.
"I'm really excited to compete against the top throwers in the country and, also, to represent Saint Mary's on a national level."
Ironically, one of those top throwers Luehmann will be squaring off against when the shot put competition rolls around Saturday morning is none other than her teammate, Weinmann.
"It's great having Ashley competing in the same event — it will definitely be a plus," said Weinmann, who qualified for the outdoor national championships with a school-record throw of 13.48 meters at the UW-Oshkosh Last-Chance Meet on May 15. "Ashley and I are constantly pushing each other. I don't try to throw well to beat her, I try to throw well to be there with her.
"Our whole motivation this seaosn has been to be at nationals together."
Competing at the national level is becoming old hat for Weinmann and Mason, who qualified for the NCAA indoor national championships in March, with Mason placing ninth with a leap of 1.61 meters in the high jump, while Weinmann failed to reach the finals in the shot put, settling for a toss of 13.03 meters.
"Having been there before will make things a lot easier this time around," said Mason, who qualified for the outdoor nationals with a leap 1.68 meters at the Augustana Last Chance Meet last Friday. "The environment that surrounds the national championships won't be quite so overwhelming the second time around, and I will have a better idea what to expect from the other athletes competing."
"No matter how much I tried to mentally prepare myself for the indoor (national) meet, it still seemed to an an overload of new experiences," Weinmann said. "This time around it should be a litlte less overwhelming. I have always loved the energy of big meets, and it is to my advantage to be able to focus that solely on my throws this time."
Luehmann, on the other hand, has no idea what to expect this weekend when she steps onto center stage at Benedictine University for her first throw in the shot.
Or the javelin.
Whichever comes first.
As if making her first-ever national appearance isn't tough enough, Luehmann will be pulling double-duty on Saturday — at the same time.
Both the shot put and javelin competitions are slated to begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning, meaning that Luehmann will not only have to be strong, but swift of foot as well.
"Qualifying for two events is a great accomplishment, and I knew that it was going to be a real challenge," said Luehmann, a provisional-qualifier in the javelin as a sophomore — missing out on a national appearance by mere inches. "It's going to be tough juggling the two events, but it's not impossible, either. I just have to make sure to stay relaxed and mentally focused on the event I am competing in at that time.
"If I can do that, I'll be OK."
OK? If all three of SMU's qualifiers have their way, they will be more than OK — they will be returning to campus as All-Americans.
"After coming so close (to a top-eight finish and All-American status) during the indoor season, I would really like to finish in the top eight this weekend," said Mason. "Hopefully, that (indoor) experience will help me achieve that."
"I have been thinking a lot about what I'd like to accomplish at this meet," said Luehmann. "I know it's my last (collegiate) meet and it would be great to finish in the top eight and be an All-American. It's a pretty lofty goal, I know, but if I stay focused and put together the type of performances I am capable of, it's definitely possible."
Top eight or not, Luehmann & Co. are determined to make their national experience one to remember.
"My athletic career at Saint Mary's has been a ride that I will never forget, and (the national championships) are just the frosting on the cake," said Luehmann, who, along with Mason, is a senior, while Weinmann is a junior. "Every day that I walked onto the court or throwing field, I felt that I had a chance to show people what I could do.
"I get the chance to close out my collegiate (track and field) career on the nation's biggest stage, and I know I'm up for the challenge," Luehmann added. "It's my last hurrah, why not go out with a bang?"