Nick Panezich is entering the Southeastern Conference outdoor championships today with a lot of self-confidence and momentum.
The big sophomore weight thrower from Springfield High is hoping that his renewed positive thinking and the personal-best throws he has made recently in the hammer throw, shot put and discus will enable him to place for the first time in at least one of the events at the SEC meet that is being held starting today.
Panezich (6-foot-2, 275 pounds), the son of Stan and Sandy Panezich who is majoring in sports management, also is hoping for a strong showing to take further momentum into the NCAA regional meet, where he already has qualified in all three events.
In fact, Panezich became the first Tennessee athlete to qualify for the regional in three different individual events with personal-best throws at the Smoky Mountain Twilight in Knoxville, Tenn., May 1.
He placed third in the hammer (185 feet, 11 inches), extending his personal-best mark by 5 feet; and second in the shot put (55-4 3/4) to qualify for the regional in both events. He also placed second in the discus with a personal-best 176-2, bettering his mark by 3 feet.
He qualified previously for the regional in the discus April 28 at the Penn Relays.
His schedule today
in SEC track meet
"My confidence is back and I am entering the end of the season with momentum and confidence," said Panezich.
Panezich is seeded No. 7 in both the shot and discus and No. 9 in the hammer.
"I think I can place in all three events," he believes, despite not having placed in the top eight in previous SEC meets.
"It is a very competitive conference as far as the throws and every other events. Anyone who wins in the SEC usually makes a run for the national title," he said.
Last year at the SEC championships, he was ninth in the hammer (179-4), 12th in the shot put (51-3) and 13th in the discus (157-0).
Panezich also is looking forward to the NCAA Division I regional May 25-26 at the University of Missouri, in which he will be competing for the first time in an attempt to qualify for the national meet June 6-9 at Sacramento (Calif.) State University.
"I've got to do my personal best. I definitely believe I have a shot [to advance to the national]. They take the top five of each regional and also there is an at-large bid," he explained.
Best national chance
will be in the discus
Panezich believes his best chance to make the national meet this year is in the discus, which would require at least fifth place in the regional.
"In the discus, I'm seeded 11th in the region and the guy in fifth or sixth is just a little over a meter better than me," he said.
"The hammer competition is pretty stacked. Some of the best in nation are in our region and are well over 200 feet. To make the national in the hammer, I have to go 20 feet past my best throw, but it just takes one throw to do that, but it is a rare occasion.
"In the shot, it actually will take a 58-plus to make it to the finals at the regional and to make the national meet."
What makes Panezich a future national contender in all three events is his capacity to improve — steadily and impressively.
"I definitely have room to expand my distances. I am only a sophomore. I have two more years of eligibility, plus a red-shirt year if it comes into play. That will be up to coach [Bill] Webb." said Panezich, who has bounced back from an injury incurred during indoor track season and is poised to barge onto the national scene.
"I haven't really hit my stride and form yet, but I am getting into position and I'm getting close. I have to just keep training, to keep doing what I have been doing, to keep progressing in practices and the weight room."
John Kovach covers college athletics for The Vindicator. Write to him at kovach@vindy.com.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Nick Panezich is entering the Southeastern Conference outdoor championships today with a lot of self-confidence and momentum.
The big sophomore weight thrower from Springfield High is hoping that his renewed positive thinking and the personal-best throws he has made recently in the hammer throw, shot put and discus will enable him to place for the first time in at least one of the events at the SEC meet that is being held starting today.
Panezich (6-foot-2, 275 pounds), the son of Stan and Sandy Panezich who is majoring in sports management, also is hoping for a strong showing to take further momentum into the NCAA regional meet, where he already has qualified in all three events.
In fact, Panezich became the first Tennessee athlete to qualify for the regional in three different individual events with personal-best throws at the Smoky Mountain Twilight in Knoxville, Tenn., May 1.
He placed third in the hammer (185 feet, 11 inches), extending his personal-best mark by 5 feet; and second in the shot put (55-4 3/4) to qualify for the regional in both events. He also placed second in the discus with a personal-best 176-2, bettering his mark by 3 feet.
He qualified previously for the regional in the discus April 28 at the Penn Relays.
His schedule today
in SEC track meet
"My confidence is back and I am entering the end of the season with momentum and confidence," said Panezich.
Panezich is seeded No. 7 in both the shot and discus and No. 9 in the hammer.
"I think I can place in all three events," he believes, despite not having placed in the top eight in previous SEC meets.
"It is a very competitive conference as far as the throws and every other events. Anyone who wins in the SEC usually makes a run for the national title," he said.
Last year at the SEC championships, he was ninth in the hammer (179-4), 12th in the shot put (51-3) and 13th in the discus (157-0).
Panezich also is looking forward to the NCAA Division I regional May 25-26 at the University of Missouri, in which he will be competing for the first time in an attempt to qualify for the national meet June 6-9 at Sacramento (Calif.) State University.
"I've got to do my personal best. I definitely believe I have a shot [to advance to the national]. They take the top five of each regional and also there is an at-large bid," he explained.
Best national chance
will be in the discus
Panezich believes his best chance to make the national meet this year is in the discus, which would require at least fifth place in the regional.
"In the discus, I'm seeded 11th in the region and the guy in fifth or sixth is just a little over a meter better than me," he said.
"The hammer competition is pretty stacked. Some of the best in nation are in our region and are well over 200 feet. To make the national in the hammer, I have to go 20 feet past my best throw, but it just takes one throw to do that, but it is a rare occasion.
"In the shot, it actually will take a 58-plus to make it to the finals at the regional and to make the national meet."
What makes Panezich a future national contender in all three events is his capacity to improve — steadily and impressively.
"I definitely have room to expand my distances. I am only a sophomore. I have two more years of eligibility, plus a red-shirt year if it comes into play. That will be up to coach [Bill] Webb." said Panezich, who has bounced back from an injury incurred during indoor track season and is poised to barge onto the national scene.
"I haven't really hit my stride and form yet, but I am getting into position and I'm getting close. I have to just keep training, to keep doing what I have been doing, to keep progressing in practices and the weight room."
John Kovach covers college athletics for The Vindicator. Write to him at kovach@vindy.com.
Friday, May 11, 2007
steadily and impressively.
"I definitely have room to expand my distances. I am only a sophomore. I have two more years...
