2008 Woodie Awards
Kelly Young throws out the competition
James Thatcher
Issue date: 5/27/08 Section: Sports
Kelly Young has a gift: She can throw things far. Really far.
At the state track meet two weeks ago in Modesto, freshman track and field athlete Young, 19, was voted the Female Field Event Athlete of the Year by track coaches from all over Northern California. Young has been CSM's most consistent scorer in track all year, and scored in three events in the State Finals this last weekend in Cerritos.
"I started my senior year in high school just throwing shot put; this is my first year doing it here," she explained.
Young now competes in the javelin, hammer and discus throw in addition to the shot.
"That's exciting for her," said her Coach, Mike Lewis. "She's come a long, long way in a very short period of time, and it certainly pays credence to how hard she works." Lewis noted that the Field Athlete of the Year award is not simply a popularity contest, but involves close scrutiny from coaches all over the state. He also praised Young's academic performance off the field.
When asked if the award came as a surprise, Lewis said, "It's never a surprise when you have someone that works as hard as she does…It's certainly a surprise she did so well in all four, because two of the events, the hammer and the javelin, she's never done before. So for her first year doing that, to end up in the top in all four, to be in second position in all of northern California, that's quite an accomplishment."
Young lives in San Bruno and attends classes at both CSM and Skyline. She said she decided to come to CSM because it was cost effective and she thought the level of competition was about right for her.
She played softball in high school until the track coach there convinced her to give throwing a try.
"I think my best events are the javelin and the hammer," she said. "Discus is the hard one…you have to do a spin and have good balance; it's pretty difficult. I think javelin is the most fun-it's a giant spear, which is pretty unique."
Two weeks ago she placed second overall in the Northern California championships, qualifying for a trip to the state finals.
"I'm a little bit nervous," she said before heading down to Cerritos. "But overall I think I'll go and do my best, and you can't ask for anything else. I know I'll have a whole other year to prepare myself."
During the week, Young continued to work out in the hot sun, preparing for the weekend's finals.
"I've been working on my mechanics," she said. "It's so mechanical and mental. I didn't even know when I first joined. It's all about repetitions."
"She's as serious as serious can be" about her training, according to her coach. "And she has the tools, and she's only added to [them] with the physical aspects of the events…It went really well this year. I'm really pleased and proud, and I feel really positive about our first year."
At the state track meet two weeks ago in Modesto, freshman track and field athlete Young, 19, was voted the Female Field Event Athlete of the Year by track coaches from all over Northern California. Young has been CSM's most consistent scorer in track all year, and scored in three events in the State Finals this last weekend in Cerritos.
"I started my senior year in high school just throwing shot put; this is my first year doing it here," she explained.
Young now competes in the javelin, hammer and discus throw in addition to the shot.
"That's exciting for her," said her Coach, Mike Lewis. "She's come a long, long way in a very short period of time, and it certainly pays credence to how hard she works." Lewis noted that the Field Athlete of the Year award is not simply a popularity contest, but involves close scrutiny from coaches all over the state. He also praised Young's academic performance off the field.
When asked if the award came as a surprise, Lewis said, "It's never a surprise when you have someone that works as hard as she does…It's certainly a surprise she did so well in all four, because two of the events, the hammer and the javelin, she's never done before. So for her first year doing that, to end up in the top in all four, to be in second position in all of northern California, that's quite an accomplishment."
Young lives in San Bruno and attends classes at both CSM and Skyline. She said she decided to come to CSM because it was cost effective and she thought the level of competition was about right for her.
She played softball in high school until the track coach there convinced her to give throwing a try.
"I think my best events are the javelin and the hammer," she said. "Discus is the hard one…you have to do a spin and have good balance; it's pretty difficult. I think javelin is the most fun-it's a giant spear, which is pretty unique."
Two weeks ago she placed second overall in the Northern California championships, qualifying for a trip to the state finals.
"I'm a little bit nervous," she said before heading down to Cerritos. "But overall I think I'll go and do my best, and you can't ask for anything else. I know I'll have a whole other year to prepare myself."
During the week, Young continued to work out in the hot sun, preparing for the weekend's finals.
"I've been working on my mechanics," she said. "It's so mechanical and mental. I didn't even know when I first joined. It's all about repetitions."
"She's as serious as serious can be" about her training, according to her coach. "And she has the tools, and she's only added to [them] with the physical aspects of the events…It went really well this year. I'm really pleased and proud, and I feel really positive about our first year."
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