Fortius

FORTIUSSports + Personal Development

07 BRYNN FORSYTHE08 NEKO FREEMAN10 JACKIE SMITH12 SAM JOHNSON13 ADRIA HILL14 EDDIE LYNN16 BRANDON FARISH17 ASHLEY HALL

20 NICOLO BOLLA22 NATHAN DOBBS26 ABBY BARNETT28 PAIGE McMILLAN

34 DOT RICHARDSON35 ARETHA THURMOND36 JOHN GODINA

32 SPECIAL THANKS TO...

03 INTRO PAGE

06 ATHLETE BIOS

20 SEQUENCES

24 OLYMPIC INSPIRATION

30 LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR

02Contents Page

INTRO

Fortius is a publication that celebrates the sport of track and field and addresses the positive impact that sports participation and involvement can have on one’s childhood and life. It peers into the lives of Division I student-athletes currently on the track team at Troy University located in Troy, Alabama. Included alongside a brief biography of each particular person are a few interview questions that help define their own personal experiences with athletics and their individual stories.

So, what exactly is track and field? The sport of track and field stems from the first Olympic Games originally held in 776 BC. At its core, track and field consists of various events that take place both on a running track and on an enclosed field. The sport is mostly composed of individual events that involve running, jumping, throwing, or any combination of these and more. Because these are natural and universal forms of human physical expression, track and field style events are among the oldest of all sporting competitions.

03Intro Page

ATHLETEBIOS

Brynn Forsythe

07Bio Page

Event(s): Hammer, Shot Put, Weight

Classification: Senior

Hometown: Oakland, FL

rynn Elizabeth Forsythe is a native of Central Florida and is the daughter of Ray Forsythe, former professional football player for the Cincinnati Bengals in the National Football League (NFL). Needless to say, athleticism

runs in her blood. It comes to no surprise that when asked how she first got involved in competitive sports she said, “I have always played sports. As a child I played soccer and t-ball. Then, in the sixth grade when I got to middle school, I started track. Shot put was the event my dad did so I started early. My dad was an athlete and I believe he was was my impetus for competitive sports.” Intrigued about her story, I was able to ask Brynn a few other questions as well...

Q: What would you say are some benefits from being involved in sports and athletics?

A: Sports have definitely given me an edge as a person because I can perform in both the classroom

and on the field because starting at a younger age I was

used to doing school and track. Granted college athletics and college academics are a bit more than I was prepared for, but I at least have the basic idea of how to balance both my energy and my time to be productive.

Q: Where do you draw your inspiration and/or motivation from?

A: I would say I draw my inspiration from my parents. My father chased his dream and made it to the

highest level; I want this for myself as well. My mother was the best a child could ask for, she was always my voice of reason after a bad day, and in general. My parents have definitely had the biggest impact on my life and are my number one supporters and motivators.

Q: Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?

A: Athletically speaking the motto that most often goes through my head is “just do it” there is no other

way to be a good athlete than to just get out there and do it. Do the work, give the effort, get the results. No better way to get something done than to just do it!

B

Neko Freeman

08

Event(s): Sprints


Hometown: Lawrenceville, GA

epresenting Troy University not only as a student-athlete, but also as an Academic All-American, is Neko Freeman. While attending Central Gwinnett High School in Georgia, Neko was a track star and

knew he had the ability to showcase his talents on the next level: on a Division I track team. Thus, he enrolled at Troy University where he currently participates in the following:

the 60-meter dash, 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 4x100-meter relay. While pursuing a major in Sports and Fitness Management, Neko has made great strides for the Men’s Track and Field team. He tied for second in points scored at Sun Belt Conference Championships his junior season, was an NCAA East Region qualifier in the 100-meters, was named second team All-Conference in 100-meter Sun Belt Academic Honor Roll and motivated the team as Team Captain for the Jumps/Sprints group during the 2012-13 season. In awe of his many accomplishments, I was fascinated by him and how his career as an athlete first began.

R

Q: When did you first get involved in competitive sports and athletics? Why?

A: Middle school I started playing football because I always had interest in athletics and I felt like it could

make me a better person.


A: Being involved in athletics teaches you discipline, hard work and commitment. I feel it helps shape

you as a person and helps you set and complete goals.

Q: How has involvement in sports (particularly as a track and field athlete) influenced your life? Even

your childhood?

A: Track and field has done nothing but better my life. I have become a more hard working person and

goal oriented person. Track has also given me incentives and paid for my college. I couldn’t imagine my life without track and field. During my childhood athletes were always my role models.

09Bio Page

Jackie Smith

10

Event(s): Distance/Javelin

Classification: Freshman

Hometown: Spanish Fort, AL

ewby on the Troy track team is Jackie Smith. Jackie has always been an all-around athlete. She lettered at Spanish Fort High School for four years and qualified for state in both track and field and cross

country for all of thsose years. Needless to say, Jackie has made amazing strides as a freshman on the team this year.


A: My first experience with true competitive sports was in the second grade, so I suppose I was about

seven years old at the time. I was playing basketball in my church league because my older brother was doing it, and it looked like fun. After that first season, I fell in love with being on a team and playing. My team was awful! I think we won two games all season, but I just loved to play. I never went another year without playing at least one sport.

Q: What are benefits from being involved in sports and athletics?

A: A few benefits of being involved in sports or athletics in general are the relationships that you

can form with your teammates and fellow athletes, the respect you gain for your body and what it takes to make it perform at its prime, and lastly, maybe just the obvious character and moral structures (discipline, determination, respect, hard work, perseverance, etc.) that form from being a part of a team and always having a coach around. I can attest to all three, because I have friends that I may not always talk to but I will always love and respect because of our times training and competing against each other, pushing our bodies to the limit, and being tested by many bad situations with officials and poor sports. Take my friend Shelley for example: we both competed in the same three sports year round and so we constantly saw each other, and eventually it got to the point where we had each other’s back even if we were competing against one another. We look to each other for help with events and can count on each other for support when battling injuries.

N

Our relationship has taught me a lot about what it means to be a true athlete of the sport and not just another person who plays on a team. No matter what team you’re on or what colors you wear, you are all working to be the best you can be and helping each other get there can be just as rewarding as getting there on your own.


your childhood?

A: Sports have always been a major part of my life. I didn’t care what the sport was usually. I would

play anything as long as I got to play, and being involved in sports has influenced me a lot. As a child, sports taught me that you have to work hard, not everything is easy, and you’re not always going to get everything you want. My dad also really helped to reinforce all of that by constantly being by my side in every sport I ever participated in and even coaching a few of my teams.

I like to think that track and field is the sport that has influenced my life the most. It showed me what it means to be a part of something bigger than myself. As I went through high school, I found myself accumulating friends

from other teams across the state, and eventually became an “honorary member” of many teams in

our area. I got to know many of the coaches, and still speak to them every time I run into them

now. I became a part of a community of athletes and coaches that many people

don’t understand and will never be a part of. I found myself on one

team physically, but in all reality being a part of this

community that truly loves the sport and

is dedicated to seeing athletes

do well. There

was

one actual team in particular that I got very involved with that helped me to realize what it meant to be part of that community, and even though they were somewhat of a rival I always found myself helping many of them with events and pushing them to win or get personal bests. In

11Bio Page

turn, I also found myself getting advice from many of their coaches, athletes, and parents throughout the season.

Track and field has taught me what it means to be a part of a community and to respect athletes for their determination and effort not the number of medals or trophies that they leave with.

I LIKE TO THINK THAT TRACK AND FIELD IS THE SPORT THAT HAS INFLUENCED MY LIFE THE MOST.

Event(s): Decathlon, Pole Vault, Shot Put, Javelin

Classification: Sophomore

Hometown: Social Circle, GA

s if excelling in one event is not enough, Samuel Johnson competes in and stands out in a myriad of events. While attending Eastside High School in Georgia, Sam wanted more than what the regular track

season had to offer. So, he competed on a club track team, World Wide Track Club, for two summers. This allowed Sam to better the skills he already had and to make himself that much better as a competitor. Thus, it comes to no surprise that Samuel has had great success while at the Division I level.

Sam Johnson

12


A: I first got involved in sports at four years old, because I was interested in baseball.


A: I have acquired a number of things over the years, since I first started. I think especially I’ve

gained an exceptional work ethic and definitely more will power than I ever would have had without sports. I have also been able to channel my competitiveness in a healthy and secure environment.


your childhood?

A: Track has definitely increased my work ethic by great heights and overall has made me work

harder to achieve goals, mostly academic.

Q: Do you have a motto or saying that you live your life by? Do you apply that to athletics and

competing as an athlete?

A: I do not necessarily have a motto, but my faith influences my life. There is a verse in the Bible that

I like in particular; Proverbs 3:5 through 6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” So basically, I would say I try to trust in the Lord with all my heart, all my mind and all of my strength.

A

Event(s): 100-Meters, 200-Meters, 55-Meter Hurdles, 100-Meter Hurdles, Long Jump and 4x100-Meter Relay

Classification: Junior

Hometown: Scottsboro, AL

hen Adria got to Troy University, she didnt know what all would come with being a student-athlete. Balancing class, two practices a day, study hall, and her social life was not an easy thing to do, but

somehow, she did it. A role model for the Women’s team, Adria is ranked tenth on Troy’s All-Time list in 100-meter hurldes, is a member of Troy’s “3.0” Club and All-Academic Team is on the Sun Belt Academic Honor Roll. She has proven that she can not only be successful on the track, but in the classroom as well.


A: I first got involved in competitive sports around the age of 6. I played little league soft ball and soccer.

Then, when I entered Jr. High, I started running track.


A: I know I am a lot healthier than I would have been without playing sports. Also, it’s taught me discipline

and how to work with others. I’ve met some amazing people with the same interest as me as well.

Q: How has involvement in sports (particularly track and field) influenced your life?

A: With track and field I have met some outstanding people and learned how to work well with others.

It has also taught me how to never give up on a goal, whether it’s on the track or in the class room. To always push forward when things get tough. In the end the reward will be great.

W

Adria Hill

Eddie Lynn

14

Event(s): Discus, Hammer, Shot Put


Hometown: Milton, FL

ddie Lynn has participated in the shot put, discus throw, and hammer throw for the Trojans for four years now. He currently holds the school record for the Discus with a toss of 53.80 meters. He is a leader on the

team, not only just for the throws squad, but for the sprints and jumps groups as well. Whenever someone needs help, he is more than willing to lend a hand or a word or two of advice. He hopes to take first place at the Sun Belt Championships in May at Florida International University in Miami, Florida.


A: I was five years old. I was obsessed with sports and wanted to play t-ball so badly.


A: Being involved in sports promotes a healthy lifestyle, teaches discipline, and requires a commitment.

Q: How has involvement in sports influenced your life? Even your childhood?

A: Sports have influenced my life in many ways. Since I started when I was five, sports have completely

shaped all of my routines. Everything has always been based around athletics, including my college choice. Track was my main reason for choosing Troy. I would say that sports are pretty influential.

E

Brandon Farish Event(s): High Jump

Classification: Freshman

Hometown: Alabaster, AL

four year letter winner at Thompson High School in Alabaster, Brandon Michael Farish is new to the Men’s team this year. It is not always an easy transition from high school athletics to athletics on the Division

I level, but Brandon has made it look easy. He is a strong field-event athlete on the team and even has the potential of becoming a multi-event athlete. He is looking forward to finishing his freshman season strong, and leaving his mark at Troy University as an outstanding performer and competitor on the Men’s Track and Field team over the next four years.


A: The first time I ever got into a competitive sport was when I was in 1rst grade. I played football

because I always loved competing with people to win.


A: Some of the benefits from sports include: it has helped me make friends that I would possibly not

have met otherwise, it has earned me a scholarship to help pay for my education, and I have the benefit of learning many different lessons in life.


your childhood?

A: Track and Field has influenced my life by giving me certain characteristics that other people might

not attain without track or sports in general. For example, I have learned how to work hard and be a leader. It has influenced me to take the lead in many things.

A

Ashley Hall Event(s): 55-Meter Dash, 60-Meter Dash, 100-Meters, 200-Meters, 400-Meters, and the 4x400-Meter Relay


Hometown: Luverne, AL

epresenting the sprints group for the Troy Track and Field Women’s team is Ashley Deonne Hall. Ashley only ran track for two years in high school, but has been involved in athletics since she can remember. While

participating in both indoor and outdoor seasons, Ashley is continually setting personal bests on and off the field. She is proud to be named an Academic All-American and a Conference scorer.

Q: When did you first get involved in competitive sports and athletics?

A: I first started getting involved with competitive sports when I was five years old, because I come

from a family of athletes and watching them when I was young influenced me!

Q: What would you say are some benefits from being involved in sports/athletics?

A: I think that some of the benefits that come from being involved with athletics are it helps you stay

in shape, you meet new people, and it shows you the importance of team work.


your childhood?

A: Track has taught me how to be a team player and has also helped me individually as a person! It has

made me stronger and showed me that working hard can get you a long way in life.

17Bio Page

R

NICOLO BOLLA

20Sequences

NATHAN DOBBS

ABBY BARNETT

PAIGE MCMILLAN

Pictured: The National Training Center located in Clermont, FL where Olympic Athletes train

OLYMPICINSPIRATION

Over the years I have had the pleasure of meeting and even working with several Olympic Athletes. The first Olympic competitor I ever met was Dot Richardson. Dorothy “Dot” Richardson is a two-time Olympic Gold Medal athlete in the sport of Softball. She was on the winning USA team in 1996 and then again in 2000. She created a not-for-profit league called the Dot Richardson Softball Association, and coached her own team called “Dot’s Diamonds” which I was on. She was the first person who said that I had the potential to be a Division I collegiate athlete.

Dot taught me a number of important lessons and shared a great deal of her own personal stories with me and my teammates. I think the thing that sticks out the most is what she feels are the two most important things in being a successful athlete and human being:

1. Focus2. Intensity

She said that with these things I could do anything I wanted and I believe that if applied, these tools can help anyone else can become successful as well.

Dot Richardson

Nothing unites a nation more than a gathering of talented individuals competing to acquire the Olympic Gold for their countries. Millions of people become glued to their television sets and smart phones to watch athletes go beyond the known limits of the human body and to set records that have never been set before.

The Olympics is the leading international sporting event featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions to watch the worlds highest ranking athletes perform to claim the title of “champion.”

Many Olympic athletes and their stories have influenced my life. No matter the sport, I have the upmost respect for them because I know the sacrifices they make and the dedication it takes from them every day. At Troy University, as a student-athlete I feel like I’ve only experienced a fraction of the hard work it takes, but I’d like to share with you my small glimpse into the Olympics and the life of the Olympic athlete...

26Olympic Inspiration

Phot

o by

: Bra

d M

angi

n

Aretha Thurmond

Another individual I have always looked up to is Aretha Thurmond. She is an amazingly talented woman who has been greatly successful in the field event Discus. As this is my favorite of all track and field events, she is an incredible inspiration to me.

Aretha is a member of the USATF team and has been ever since her sophomore year in college at the University of Washington.

I first ran into her at the Auburn Tiger Classic - Auburn University’s home track meet - back in 2010. She was so kind to everyone, including me and my other competitors. She even spoke with me briefly about what I could do to better perfect my own Discus throw. I was so excited to see her compete yet again, at the same meet in Auburn. She of course obliged when I asked for a picture with her!

She currently lives with her husband and son in, Reedus and Theo, in Auburn, Alabama to train year-round. She has every intent of obtaining an Olympic medal before she concludes her throwing career.

27

Phot

o by

: Ant

hony

Cla

rk

John Godina

John Carl Godina (born May 31, 1972 in Fort Sill, OK) is an American shot putter. His record

includes three World Championship wins and two Olympic medals. He also competes in discus. Currently, Godina is in Phoenix Arizona working at the World Throws Center.

In 2008, I attended the Ironwood Throws Camp located in Spokane, Washington. At Ironwood, high school athletes work one-on-one with some of the top track and field coaches and athletes in the USA. While there, I met Bill Godina, John’s father. Naturally, Bill spoke very highly of his son and so I wanted to learn more. Since Ironwood, I have had the pleasure of personally speaking with John and learning about his life. The following is a list of questions from fans...

Q: How did throwing enter your life?

A: My Dad introduced me to the discus when I was in 5th Grade. Although we didn’t have a track team until 7th Grade, we still would go out and have a good time throwing together. Shot Put was more of a team thing. I started that my sophomore year in High School for the team points. I never liked the shot as much as the discus until late in my college career. Q: When and how did you know you would excel and reach the top of our sport?

A: I always knew I was pretty good at each level...youth, Junior High, High School and College. I would always win or be in the hunt, but the idea that I was going to be World Champion never occurred to me. I mean, who really thinks of that? Wanting to be that good and actually believing it are two different things. I didn’t actually believe it until my senior year in college when my distances started

28

© C

opyr

ight

Mac

Thro

wsV

ideo

reflecting me belonging at the top. Once I moved up in class and felt like I belonged at that next new level I was confident enough to think that I was the new King of the Mountain. Q: What do you see as your greatest achievement and toughest setback. Looking back, what elements of training or competition strategy would you change?

A: Without a doubt my greatest achievement was showing a generation of young throwers that you can compete clean and consistently win at the highest levels of our sport. When I was coming up through the ranks it could have seemed hopeless without a strong belief in right and wrong. I knew what was going on, and I chose to be one of the exceptions to the rule. What was inconceivable at the time is now commonplace. Lots of great throwers are competing clean, and I like to think I had at least a small part in showing them the way. The concept of a setback is pretty foreign to me. There were barriers that had to be worked around - injuries, new throwers, bad meets - but I never have admitted to myself that I had a setback. Everything that made things hard for me early on made things easier later. What others viewed as setbacks were merely training tools to strengthen my mind. Stressful situations broke others and I knew that. I knew that if I could just come out of every “setback” by, at worst, breaking even then I would be miles ahead of my competition.

Q: What are some of your practices to get ready for competition from a mental standpoint?

A: Preparing for competition mentally is too often a neglected aspect of regular training. Everyone understands that if you try to prepare your body for competition but never put any strain on the body throughout the year you will not be ready to throw far when the competitions come around. Too many people deprive themselves of stress that can develop mental strength. Mental stress in training is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. I liked to invent competitions daily to force my self to perform. Art Venegas was my coach for the bulk of my career, and he was a great source of positive challenges every day. We were expected to perform daily at personal-best levels. This is not an exaggeration. Think about that. Every day we showed up to train we were expected to perform maximally. This is almost unheard of because it is so difficult to hold up to over an extended period of time. However, if you continue to push yourself to perform under adversity... fatigue, lack of concentration, general laziness, injuries, illness....you become mentally in shape to handle even the

biggest track meets in the world. The reason so few athletes are good competitors is that almost no one is intellectually honest enough with themselves to prepare properly. What I mean by this is that most athletes will convince themselves that they did a good job or gave all that had each day that they train even when it is not the case.

To properly prepare mentally you need three things: 1. Competitive situations daily.

2. A TRUE belief that those competitive situations matter in the larger scheme of things - This is also difficult for most athletes. It make take some time to understand and convince yourself that an overhead shot put competition in November or a standing long jump competition in February really is important to the development process. These situations should elicit the same mental focus at that moment that you would want to have at the biggest competition of the year.

3. A VALID assessment of your performance under stress.

29John Godina

*Inte

rview

que

stio

ns a

nd p

hoto

s co

urte

sy o

f Mac

Thro

wsV

ideo

.com

LETTERFROM THE AUTHOR

From my early childhood up until now, athletics and sports competitions have been a major part of my life. As someone who has always been off of the

charts both weight and height wise, things however, did not come easy. I think despite ridicule and teasing from my peers as a child and always coming in last in the mile run in grade school, I have enjoyed being active. I loved the feeling of hitting a softball off a bat, serving up a volleyball over the net, or even making a basket on the court for my team. Playing sports taught me so much about teamwork and working with others, but also so much about myself. It made me realize that I am a stronger person for persevering and I am a more compassionate person for persevering. For this reason, I whole-heatedly believe organized sports within schools is beneficial.

Having been on both sides of the spectrum, I know that there will always be those people who hate sports who hate being active, and who hate people that are naturally athletically inclined. These people will always exist. Nevertheless, I still believe being active and competitive and playing sports as a child is for the best. I think mostly because it not only sharpens the your body and physique and sets one up for a healthier lifestyle, but it sharpens the mind and it influences one’s social skills. Looking back now, as a Division I collegiate track and field athlete, I know that

my early involvement with sports helped shape me to be the individual I am today.

Not only that, but it allowed me to be a leader and a role model for my younger sister. I am so proud to say that she has shattered the records I set at Winter Springs High School, back home in Orlando. She assisted me in my pursuit of becoming a college student-athlete and now I can help her. Every weekend she was at the track meets by my side as my cheerleader and now I can be hers. I look forward to seeing the great things she will accomplish over the next few years.

In addition, I feel like a more tenacious person because I have faced quite a bit of diversity while here at Troy University. Every year I have somehow managed to find myself injured at some point in the season. For the past two years, I was injured at the most crucial part of the season: the spring. This meant that I had to compete in the Sun Belt Conference Championships at an extremely less than ideal level.

I’m still so proud to be able to say that despite being injured, I managed to score points for my team at the Championship Meet. Although the circumstances were not what I had pictured, I still was able to be successful.

30

Phot

o by

: Jim

Mar

shal

l

Recently, however, I found out that I will not be able to compete for my senior year. I’ve been confined to non weight-bearing activities like running, jumping, and you guessed it, throwing. After more surgery in May, I hope to be able to run again and throw again without pain and continue leading an active lifestyle. Until then, I will support my fellow teammates and my sister as best I can!

31

Phot

o by

: Bry

nn F

orsy

the

Phot

o by

: Chi

p Ev

ans

THE INJURY

Like I said previosuly, I recently found out that I will not be able to compete for my senior season. In the summer of 2012, I had surgery on my knee in hopes of keeping my knee cap from dislocating (which had happened three times at this point). The expected recovery time was six months, and I was certain that once those months were up I would be able to throw again.

In January, when I was finally released by the doctor to begin practitcing with the team again, things were not right. I felt pain. Not the push through it kind of pain either. So, over spring break I went to see the doctor again. It was there that I was told that I would need more surgery because the bone which was originally cut never healed properly and that I would not be able to compete again. This was extremely hard to hear. I knew my dreams of becoming an Academic All-American, Conference Champion, and Regional Qualifier were over.

Above are x-rays taken in September of 2012. It shows the two pins that were put into my knee and the bone which never healed properly.

THE RECOVERY

Altough this news was devastating, I knew that track and field would

not completely vanish from my life. Through the creation of this

publication, I have become closer to my teammates and have learned so

much about them and their lives. They are my family.

I have not been able to practice or compete, but I have been going to

physical therapy and treatment with the track and field trainer. While there, I do bone stimulation to help the area

of my leg that never fully healed, as well as other exercises to help keep

my quads and legs strong. This is extremely important because it will

help my recovery from the surgery I will have in May.

In the image above, Drew Garner, an athletic trainer is helping me set up bone stimulation.

SPECIALTHANKS TO...

BEVERLY LEACHProject Director

ED NORIEGACommittee Member

SARA DISMUKESCommittee Member

PAM ALLENSenior Thesis Director

THE MEN’S & WOMEN’S TROY TRACK AND FIELD TEAMS

Fortius

Documents

Transcript of Fortius