The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

Hunter named outdoor All-American

By By Patrick McHugh, News Staff

Indoors or outdoors, it makes little difference: Nate Hunter can throw the shot put and throw it well.
For the second time in three months, the junior earned All-American honors in the shot put event. His latest feat came June 11 at the NCAA outdoor championship for track and field in Fayetteville, Ark.
With a throw of 60 feet, 5 inches, Hunter placed eighth of 12 throwers to earn All-American honors in the outdoor event. Hunter qualified for the finals a day earlier by finishing 12th out of 26 throwers in the preliminaries. His throw of 59 feet, 11.75 inches was enough to qualify for the finals by half an inch.
Although Hunter comes from a smaller track program than many of his competitors, throwing coach Joe Donahue said the junior’s demeanor proved he was no different than his peers.
‘He doesn’t act like he’s just happy to be at the party, he acts like he’s one of the top guests, and he’s going to be that way the rest of his life,’ Donahue said. ‘I think what you’re looking at is a potential Olympian.’
Hunter adds outdoor accolades to his resume following a winter season that was just as successful. At the NCAA indoor championship, held March 13 in College Station, Texas, he placed seventh in the event with a throw of 61 feet, 4.75 inches, which made him an indoor All-American.
Hunter said he did not have as strong a showing as he expected to, but felt fortunate to earn All-American status again.
‘I wasn’t very happy with my performance, but given the amount of pressure that was involved I was just happy that I was able to make it to the next day,’ Hunter said. ‘I don’t think I competed to my full potential, but I did what I needed to do to get the job done.’
Northeastern track and field coach Sherman Hart said Hunter’s success was a product of effort.
‘Overall, it’s well deserved,’ Hart said. ‘He worked hard enough for it, put his time in. It’s one of those stories where you put your time in, you get rewarded.’
Hunter credited Donahue for helping improve his performance and guiding his training, calling him a ‘throwing coach guru’ who is ‘well-respected in the throwing world.’
In preparation for the outdoor finals, Hunter said Donahue advised him to focus on technique rather than lifting.
‘I’m very happy being coached by him,’ Hunter said. ‘We have a very good relationship in that he knows what he expects out of me, I understand what he expects out of me. We work very well together.’
Donahue, who has more than 40 years experience coaching Northeastern throwers, had an uncommon comparison for the technique he and Hunter have worked on for throwing the shot put.
‘It’s like watching the ballet; you either hit the jump or you don’t,’ Donahue said. ‘It’s much more graceful and athletic than people may realize.’
Even with his list of accomplishments, Hunter said he already has his sights set on a more competitive year next season.
‘I want to do the best I can do and try to add the third and the fourth [All-American status],’ Hunter said. ‘I’m just hoping for a big year next year, trying to push that 21 meter, 70 foot range. I guess with the work I put in I can hopefully better my marks and become a better competitor and thrower.’

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