A.G. Kruger prepares to release the weight at the USATF Indoors (© Kirby Lee)
A.G. Kruger and Erin Gilreath are in the process of overhauling their technique for the Hammer Throw but the pair still managed to rally for late-round wins respectively in the women’s and men’s Weight Throw for their third national titles on the opening day of the three-day AT&T USA Track & Field Indoor Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center on the campus of Roxbury Community College on Friday, 24 February.
In the women’s competition, Gilreath defeated Amber Campbell, 22.95m to 22.66m, after trailing through the fifth round for her third win in a row. Gilreath’s NYAC teammate Loree Smith was third at 21.82m.
Kruger, who also won the men’s Weight Throw title in 2003 and 2005, squeaked by training partner Kibwe Johnson by 2cm with a fifth-round throw of 23.72m. Thomas Freeman was third at 23.48m.
Emphasis on the Hammer
Kruger and Gilreath are placing an emphasis on refining their technique in preparation for the Hammer Throw during the outdoor season rather than the indoor Weight Throw. The event is not recognised by the IAAF for record purposes and has never been on the programme of the World Indoor Championships or any other major international indoor championships
The victories, however, were satisfying for Gilreath, 25, and Kruger, 27. “It’s a matter of pride,” Gilreath said. “I didn’t want to let it slip away because I was focusing on the Hammer. It’s great that I came here and won but it wasn’t going to ruin my season if I didn’t because I know that we’re doing the right thing.’’
A work in progress
Kruger called the Weight Throw a training tool for the Hammer. With his distances stagnating in the Hammer, Kruger switched from a three-turn spin technique to four turns in January in hope of generating additional momentum to translate into longer throws. Kruger had four of the top seven throws by an American in 2005 but managed a season best of 75.57m and failed to approach his career best of 79.26m (2004).
“Even though I am a bigger guy, the weight was only going to go so far with muscle,” said the 1.93m 118kg (6-foot-4, 260-pound) Kruger. “I decided to do something a little different. If it didn’t work I would go back to three turns.”
Gilreath and coach Larry Judge have been tinkering with her technique after consulting with World Hammer Throw record holder Yuriy Sedykh at a clinic in Charleston, S.C. in December. Gilreath has tried to increase the radius on her turn and letting the ball guide her into the turn.
“Last year, we placed too much of an emphasis on the Weight Throw and when the Hammer got started we didn’t have the mechanics,” Judge said. “I knew something had to be changed and we went to the best and (Sedykh) gave us some ideas.”
Gilreath, who had been unbeaten for three seasons in the Weight Throw, has taken a number of 2006 indoor circuit losses, however a season-best 22.95 helped provide redemption yesterday when the national title was up for grabs.
“I can’t be too upset about it,” Gilreath said. “We knew that if we wanted to get to the next level that we had to change my technique. It’s a work in progress. Next year, I’ll feel pretty good about it.”
Late round comebacks
Kruger, who trains with runner-up Johnson in Ashland, Ohio, under coach Jud Logan, anticipated it would take a throw over 23.47m for a top-two finish, particularly with Johnson, who threw 24.54m in December. “I knew what he was capable of and it was (24.38m) plus,” Kruger said. “I don’t try to get into a rooster battle, of who is the head rooster. If you are throwing that far on this day, that’s how far you are throwing. For me, it’s to get in there, work on my technique and throw what I can throw on that day.”
The 2004 Olympic and 2005 World Championship team member’s prognosis for Friday’s competition was fairly accurate. Johnson assumed the lead in the first round with a 22.95m effort and extended it on the third round with a 23.64m throw. Logan took the lead in the fifth round with his winning 23.74m with Johnson coming tantalizingly close with a 23.72m on the next throw. “I had to stay patient with my technique and I knew it would come,” Kruger said.
Gilreath, the American record holder in the Hammer Throw, took the lead in the second round at 22.37m and had four of six throws over 22.19m. Campbell, however, unleashed a 22.66m throw in the fifth round to temporarily take the lead. Gilreath, responded with a 22.81m effort and then added a 22.95m throw in round six and claimed the title with a foul by Campbell to end the competition to become the seventh NYAC thrower in nine years to win the Weight Throw.
“My club has such a great tradition in this event that I wanted to come and get the title,” Gilreath said. “I am proud to be in such good company.’’
Kirby Lee for the IAAF
