Aug. 19, 2015
SAN DIEGO - Former San Diego State track and field standouts Whitney Ashley and Shanieka Thomas will compete at the 15th IAAF World Championships later this week in Beijing. Ashley will represent the United States in the discus throw, while Thomas will compete for Jamaica in the triple jump.
Ashley, who won the 2012 NCAA title in the discus while competing for the Aztecs, qualified for the World Championships by finishing second at the USA Outdoor Championships June 27 in Eugene, Ore., with a toss of 204 feet, 1 inch (62.21 meters). It was her second runner-up finish at the meet in three years (also 2013).
The qualification groups of the discus throw will be contested on Sunday, Aug. 23 (Aug. 24 in Beijing), with Group A slated for 6:35 p.m. PDT (9:35 a.m. CDT) and Group B set for 7:55 p.m. PDT (10:55 a.m. CDT). The final, meanwhile, will be contested on Monday, Aug. 24 (Aug. 25 in Beijing) at 4 a.m. PDT (7 p.m. CDT). To advance to the finals in the discus at the last IAAF World Championships in 2013, the competitor had to hit 63.00 meters (206-08) or at least finish among the top 12 in the qualifying rounds. Ashley came in 24th in the 2013 meet.
Ashley sat down with GoAztecs.com on Aug. 6 before she left for Beijing. Below is some of the transcript:
On her preparations for the World Championships this summer:
"Shortly after the USA Championships I went over to Europe since there was a 60-day break from USA's and World's. What you don't want to do is shut down too soon. It is really hard to establish rhythm and to re-peak when you do that. So we gambled and I continued to compete for about five weeks post-USA's and I shut it down after that. I am now re-peaking, hitting it really hard in the weight room and throwing fairly heavy with a lot of reps outside. I'm not taking as many throws as I was, but taking enough to build to World Championships. The next couple of weeks I will be completely off the weights and freshened up for some big throws when I get to Beijing."
On how much she has learned from the last World Championships in 2013, when she was 24th:
"First of all, (I learned) how to compete. Coming out of collegiate level competition to the profession level was completely different. You go from having to go through conference (championships) and nationals (NCAA Championships) to every meet is a national-type feel where everyone there has somewhat your PR (personal record) or better. I've had to learn to adjust to the level of competition, having to throw much further much sooner. In college your building up to nationals as opposed to my first meet now where if I'm not ready I could get beat pretty badly. Also, continuing to learn my craft. I didn't really learn my event specifically until my junior year at San Diego State. I only threw (the discus) two years before getting to the professional ranks, so I've been playing the catch-up game. Not only did I have to compete at a high level, but I had to learn how to throw the discus properly and that was very difficult."
On finally being able to focus on just the discus throw as opposed to the shot put and hammer throw as well:
"I'm enjoying focusing on just one event. It's difficult to, not only learn an event, but to score in multiple events as well. I can focus all my time and energy on just the discus throw, which makes it easier to be a lot better."
On any individual goal heading into the World Championships:
"I'm going to leave my goal mark anonymous, since I don't want to jinx it. My goal is to get through qualifications and make the Elite 8 final. Once I get (to the Elite 8 final), it's anyone's game to get a medal. I just have to get into that top 8 to give myself a chance."
On representing the United States:
"Don't take it lightly when you see posters that it's the hardest team to make. Nothing feels better than to put a USA uniform on. When we go to Olympic Trials and USA Championships, we know that when we are making the top 3 we have a good chance, if we do what we are supposed to, to earn a medal on the other side because we are the best team in the world. I'm proud to be an American. I work really, really hard and I know that when I make the team, I am in medal contention."
On how close she is to accomplishing her goal of competing at the 2016 Olympics:
"I would like to think I have an incredibly high chance of making the (U.S.) team next year. I have always maintained a top-2 finish at USA's, while still learning the event, but next year I will be extremely polished, a lot stronger, a lot more mature and a lot more experienced as a thrower. I don't think this it too far-fetched to say, but I think I have a chance to win the (U.S.) Olympic Trials next year, and have everyone chase me and me not be the chaser for once."
On her winning the 2012 NCAA title in the discus throw and helping elevate the San Diego State track and field program to where it is now:
"I don't think it was that we weren't good, but sometimes it takes someone to spark a little bit of encouragement or boost of confidence into the group. I think that when I won nationals, the others on the team, who already knew they were good, took it to another level mentally. They knew they could win, too. The atmosphere has improved, the work ethic has improved and mentally everyone got on the same page. It was really nice to see the dynamics of the team change competitively. Everyone went into the meet a little different than they would have before. There's a lot of pride, too. (Winning an NCAA title) wasn't just a one-time thing or a luck thing. We're San Diego State, we are the Aztecs and we are going to continue on with this legacy as long as we can.
"I don't think it's even just track and field that I've noticed, but the whole athletic program across the board at San Diego State. I'm not saying that was me, but when you see other teams doing well, you also want to do well. Football, our women's soccer team, baseball and of course men's basketball. (SDSU) is becoming an all-around good sports school and that's what you want to hear. You don't want to be that program with just one good team. I'm definitely a proud Alum."
Thomas, meanwhile, set a personal-best mark and broke the NACAC meet record with a triple jump mark of 46-08.25 (14.23m) on Aug. 7 in San Jose, Costa Rica. Thomas finished her SDSU career in 2014 as a three-time NCAA triple jump champion (2013-14 outdoor, 2014 indoor) and a two-time runner-up finisher (2012 outdoor, 2013 indoor). She was a seven-time USTFCCCA All-American and nine-time MW champion.
The qualification flight of the triple jump is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 22 at 4:10 a.m. PDT (7:10 p.m. CDT) with the final following on Monday, Aug. 24 at 4:30 a.m. PDT (7:30 p.m. CDT). At the 2013 IAAF World Championships, to advance to the finals in the triple jump, the athlete had to jump at least 14.30 meters (46-11.00) or at least finish among the top 12 in the qualifying rounds.
15th IAAF World Championships
Beijing, China
(All dates/times PDT)
Triple Jump
Qualification: Saturday, Aug. 22 - 4:10 a.m.
Final: Monday, Aug. 24 - 4:30 a.m.
Discus Throw
Qualification Group A: Sunday, Aug. 23 - 6:35 p.m.
Qualification Group B: Sunday, Aug. 23 - 7:55 p.m.
Final: Tuesday, Aug. 25 - 4 a.m.