We are having a baby boy! I know some people decide to wait but we like to plan. Our ultrasound technician said she has been doing this for 25 years and was only wrong one time. His name is Ryker and he is due on September 15th. We are very excited and consider this little baby a gift from God.

While training in San Diego I stayed with Olympic Discus thrower Jarred Rome and American Record holder in the pole vault, Brad Walker. While talking with Brad he opened my eyes to two things I had not previously thought about. First, I was looking for someone who had made big improvements in their performance in a short time span. I was looking for someone to talk to about what they did and how they did it. The goal was good but my reasoning was not. Brad asked me, “Why do you want to find that person?” I replied, “If I know someone else who has done what I am trying to do, it will help me believe it is possible.” After I said it I realized how unconfident I sounded, but it was true. Brad’s goal is to set the world record in the Pole Vault. He said, “I’m trying to do something no one else has ever done, if I wait to talk to someone who has jumped 6.16m (20 feet) I will never break the record.” His statement was right on. There was much more to our conversation, including a detailed discussion about feelings versus positions while training and competing, and I found it all very valuable.

That weekend I competed at the UCSD Triton Invitational. My goal, for the first time in my life, was to be on balance. It sounds like a simple goal and one that should be easily achieved however during competition it is nearly impossible to make a change. But I did! I kept to my one and only goal, I stayed on balance. After achieving my positional goal I realized it was not enough. Yes, I was on balance and that was step one but I wasn’t moving well enough to create separation between my shoulders and hips which leads to far throws…which is step two.

A few days later I flew to Maui and met up with the top male and female throwers in the USA. We threw in two meets at War Memorial Stadium. It was an excellent trip. I stayed with my Uncle Chuck Conwell and his girlfriend Pat. My goal while in Maui was to stay on balance while adding a low left heal, a firm left hip at entry, and facing the sector as long as possible while entering the middle of the throw. The first meet was a bit messy and I did not face the throw well at all. The second meet went much better. I warmed up with very relaxed throws and was very aware of my body position at the start of the throw. I threw 59.24 meters (194 feet) which is my seasons best and currently ranks me 17th in the USA. It is a move in the right direction.

After the meets Uncle Chuck showed me just about every part of the beautiful island. We walked on the beaches, played in the water, went to the Hard Rock Café, climbed one of the mountains, drove “up country”, and watched the sunset while sitting on the beach. I couldn’t have asked for a better trip. Thank you Pat and Uncle Chuck.

I have a few more meets on my schedule this season; next up I will throw at the Tucson Throwers Classic in Tucson, Arizona on May 19th and 21st.

If any of the above technical stuff sounded interesting to you call, text, or email me. I would love to explain in detail exactly what I have been working on in the discus ring, weight room, and track.

In late March and early April the winds are very strong through the state of Texas as the seasons change.  The discus is the most aerodynamic event in track and field and can by strongly influenced by wind.  The best wind for maximum distance is a right-quartering head wind (assuming the thrower is right handed).  As the discus is released with an upward “pitch” and a “roll” away from the thrower the head wind creates lift and can give a discus (if thrown correctly) 1-3 meters  or 3-10 feet in distance.  This being said….I want to throw in strong head wind conditions.  Lone star here I come. 
 
I purchased my tickets and found the best possible deal.  I stayed with Justin Hobbs who is a friend of my good friend Kevin McCarthy who use to work in Lubbock.  He was a very hospitable and generous.  The two track meets went well.  I threw on Friday with a group of elite professionals and on Saturday with a group of college athletes.  Going into this meet I had a very limited number of throws with the 2k competition discus due to a right hip injury.  The hip is now good to go after excellent work by my massage therapists John and Rebecca hall but my timing with the discus proved to still need work.  I threw 189’10” on Friday and 188’6” on Saturday.  My goal for the season is 213 feet (the Word “A” standard) so I was a bit disappointed.  Not to worry, I have had several excellent practices after returning to Auburn, Alabama and I will throw again on the 16th of April.
 
If you are interested in coming to watch me compete here is a link to my competition schedule.  I will be in Alabama, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Oregon, and New York.
http://www.willconwell.com/competitions/
 
BABY CONWELL!!!
We had the itch and made the decision to start trying to have a baby in late December.  As I predicted we conceived the first month trying!  We are very excited and cannot wait for September 15th.  Kate was quite sick the first trimester but is now feeling much better.  She is beautiful as a little pregnant lady.  She is 16 weeks along and showing a very health little prego belly.  On April 14th we will be having our first ultrasound and we are praying for a healthy baby.  Please keep us in your prayers and check in with Kate as she progresses.  We will be in the Northwest in late June for the US National Track and Field Championships so that will be your chance to see kate and I…but mostly kate as she will be entering her 3rd trimester. 
 
Thank you all who continue to support and help me as I train 6 days a week toward the ultimate goal of making the 2012 Olympic Team.  This month we did not have any new team members  but I would like to mention someone I accidently left out last month.  Thank you Sarahjoy Marsh for your generous donation J .  If you would like help me continue to pursue my passion please click this link.  I am set up to receive monthly and one time donations through the non-profit, tax-deductable Evergreen Athletic Fund.  www.willconwell.com/donate
 
I will be posting my results on Facebook and my website at www.willconwell/competitions.  My next competition is April 16th here in Auburn, Alabama.

The 2010 Tucson Elite Throwers Classic was hosted by the University of Arizona. The meet was set up with 2 days of competition. The first day, Thursday May 20th, a day of training, then a second day of competition Saturday May 22nd. Team Gold Star (our training groups) was in full force. 3 members of our group competed. Cory Martin in the Mens hammer and shot, Aretha Thurmond and Will Conwell (me!) in the discus.

Arizona was HOT! The average temperature for the week was 95 degrees and I’m pretty sure it was 100 on Saturday. Our first day of competition Cory Martin threw the Hammer 71 meters, Aretha threw the disc 59 meters and I threw 58 meters (Cory was looking for 75 meters and Aretha and I were looking for 62+ meter throws)

The next day we worked with a sports psychologist and had our videos analyzed by a bio-mechanist. The combination of mental and physical advice was very beneficial (Thank you USATF High Performance). Nearly everyone threw better on Saturday. Cory Threw a new world leading throw in the Shot put, 22.10m (72’6″). Aretha Thurmond threw 61.98 meters and I threw 61.28 meters (201′).

We celebrated Cory Martins 25th birthday and world leading throw and took an early flight out of Tucson the next morning. We are now back in Alabama getting ready for our next competitions. Mine will be in Montana on June 5th.

Here are my best throws from Thurday and Saturday. Check out the video’s tab to see Cory Martin’s 22.10m (72’6) world leading shot put.

The 2010 Triton Invitational at UCSD was a huge success.  The whole trip was a blessing from God.  I was concerned about not having the finances to make the trip to San Diego and I had been throwing poorly.  I was nervous about paying $500 to compete in 2 meets without my coach on the other side of the country.

2 weeks before the competition I was talking with Aretha Thurmond.  I was telling her about my concerns and giving her every reason why I thought I shouldn’t go.  She didn’t buy it.  She encouraged me to trust my training, get myself to the west coast to compete in high caliber meets with other great throwers…and she topped our conversation off by telling me she would be using some of her miles to cover my flight costs!  That was blessing #1.  Blessing #2 came when I went to practice the next day and my coach, Jerry Clayton, informed me that his athlete Eric Werskey and him would be traveling to San Diego for both the meets I was now planning on competing in.  Eric has been throwing so well the team decided to move him out of his red-shirt year to compete.  This was great news for me because now I had a flight, a coach, and a group to travel with.  Blessings #3 and #4 came in the discus rings at Chula Vista and UCSD.  At the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista I threw a seasons best of 60.80m (199′).  That throw was better every throw of my 2009 season.  Two days later at UCSD I threw two throws over 61 meters with a best of 61.36m (201’4″).  That is my 6th best throw of my career.  I am really enjoying training right now and I can’t wait to see what will come of this 2010 season…..63+ meter throws will send me to Europe this summer.

BACK ON TRACK! Today was the first day I have throw over 60 meters (197′) in 2 years! I competed at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California with a group of elite throwers. I was nowhere close to winning but I had a great day of progress. I had one que today….get balanced over my left foot while entering the throw. This sounds easy but often we (throwers) rush past the balanced position…falling toward the front of the ring and trying to recover in time to throw. I will continue to que this position until it becomes 2nd nature. Thank you everyone for your support! After last meet I was pretty down but your encouraging emails, texts, and facebook messages really helped. I throw again on April 24th at UCSD (University of California San Diego)

Today was a little frustrating.  I had such a great week of practice!  On Sunday coach Clayton and I began working on a change to the back of my throw.  I am trying to enter the throw with a bent right him, knee, and ankle.  My goal is to have my right knee flexed at 90  degrees with my right toe up while I bring my right leg around into the middle of the ring.  This is HARD FOR ME!!!  My whole throwing career I have used a straight right leg entering the middle.  a bent right leg is quicker and easier to move in front of the right shoulder…which I HAVE TO DO!

Anyway, This was my goal all week…and I did get better at it.  However, when the meet came I digressed back to my old technique.  I was really frustrated during the competition.  It seems like such a simple adjustment but in the heat of competition my body’s muscle memory was stronger then my mind.  Here is my video. 

My training partner Aretha Thurmond had a great day.  Her goal was to throw over 60 meters (197 feet).  She started the competition off with throws in the 180′ range but made the necessary adjustments.  On her 5th throw she was on balance with great separation which led to a big throw of 60.86 meters (199’8″).  Watch as the official has to run and drag the tape because her throw was so far!

On April 4th we had our first track meet of the season.  I threw with many college athletes and several other professionals at Auburn University.  It was a beautiful day and there were 25 throwers in the Men’s discus.  The goal of the meet was not only to throw far and win while seeing what technical adjustments carried over from practice to an actual track meet.  I won the meet with a throw of 57.60 meters (189 feet).   My next meet will be on the 17^th of April at Auburn University.  My training partner had a great day as well.  Aretha Thurmond threw 195 feet.  That throw currently ranks her #1 in the USA and #11 in the world.

Every once in a while something totally unexpected happens and it alters our plans. Here is my story. I was walking through our apartment on Tuesday the 7th of July, packing and getting ready to leave for New York to compete at the 2009 Club National Championships. AHHHHHH!! I just stabbed the side of my foot with something very sharp! What in the world? After stopping the bleeding I examined the carpet to find a sewing needle….no wait…oh no. HALF OF A SEWING NEEDLE. Where was the other half? Yes, you guessed it, stuck far enough into the side of my left foot near my big toe that I could not see it or remove it. The next morning I went and had my foot x-rayed. Check it out

I told the Dr. that I had a track meet in New York and a date with my beautiful Wife that I just could not miss. We scheduled the surgery for Monday (after the meet) and Kate and I left for New York!

The competition was tough. I had a difficult time throwing but Kate and I ended up scoring good points for the team and helping Club Northwest place 5th on the mens side and 8th on the womens side. I threw hammer 180′, shot put 50′ and discus 180′. Nothing amazing…but remember NEEDLE IN THE FOOT! HA. Here are the video’s

As with most of this season, things did not go as planned.  Reedus Thurmond and I threw at the 2009 USA Track and Field Championships on Friday the 26th of June.  I entered the meet with a mark of 61.74 meters which I threw at the Olympic Trials last year to place 6th in the USA.  This mark ranked me 10th coming into the meet.  I fealt great, I am stronger then last year and even more focused.  However, my discus throwing did not show the amount of work I put into this season.  I threw 57 meters and placed 14th.  My goal was to place in the top 3 which would have required a throw of 62 meters.  This goal was possible and very realistic but was not in God’s plan for this year.  I still had an amazing time and I always love seeing my track and field friends.

Thank you Kate, Grandpa, Aunt Pauline, Uncle Ernie, Mom, Dad, Elizabeth, Sarah, Tom, SJ, Donna, and the Hatfield Clan for coming to cheer! And Thank you everyone else for all your support and cheers from around the country.  You are all amazing for making the trip and being part of the 2009 USA Championship experience.

Here was my 2nd throw that landed at 57.96m (190’2″)