Stepping up to the throwing circle, freshman Peyton Wilhoite walks to the front on the ring and looks down field. Picking up his 2 kg discus, he tests the weight in his hand, spins and launches the discus down field.
Wilhoite, a Gainesville, Georgia native, has been competing since his junior year of high school. He has just begun his first year of throwing at an SEC school, and he has competed at two home meets. Later this season, he will compete in the SEC Championships, hosted by the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.
“Peyton was a very cool story because early in high school he had only thrown a distance we wouldn’t normally recruit, but he asked me what he would have to throw to be on scholarship,” said Ole Miss Track and Field Throwers Coach Erin Wibbels. “After every meet he would call back with his updated distance. He started as someone I hadn’t heard of and turned into someone who was the best in the country.”
Coach Wibbels has been coaching Wilhoite and his track teammates since the beginning of the season. They started practice the first week of school with high hopes as they began preparation for the upcoming season, and ultimately the SEC finals.
“Since the first day of school, the team has been dedicated to their practices, Willhoite said. “When the first meets time around, we are all peaking.”
Wilhoite is the lone discus thrower on the team as a freshman. He left high school in Georgia as one of the top five in the state. However, he said he doesn’t feel like there is too much pressure placed on him by the coaching staff.
“I definitely think he will make big jumps in his distances and throws as he matures after freshman year because he will get strong and become more confident about his rhythm,” Wibbels said. “Throwing is all about rhythm.”
Keeping the pressure low, Wilhoite is hoping for good results this season, but he said he doesn’t expect to win the event this year. His main goal is to set a good mark and improve his throws every weekend. Wilhoite said he hopes to hold the school record by the time he graduates.
Wilhoite has competed at several meets during the year posting consistent results, but is showing signs of improvement each week.
“There is only slight pressure, but it’s kind of nice because I’m not trying to follow in a different throwers foot steps,” Willhoite said. “I’m able to blaze my own trail and leave my mark.”
No comments:
Post a Comment