File photo/The Lion’s Roar
Graduate student and thrower Alex Young has won a national championship for the second time in two years. Young was victorious at the USA Track & Field Indoor National Championships last Sunday at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
“It feels pretty good,” said Young. “Definitely, I wouldn’t be there if I didn’t have my coaches. You know, the resources that I have here in order to train. It’s been really good to get the support.”
Young also spoke about his past two national championship wins.
“These are two different championships,” said Young. “Last year, I won 2016 National Indoor Championships, NCAA National Championships, that’s for all the collegiate athletes. This time around it was USA Indoor National.”
Young explains what it takes to win national championships and expresses his gratitude towards his coach.
“Honestly, it’s just dedication and perseverance,” said Young. “Time and time again, just be kinda doing the same thing over and over again. You just have to find new ways to make it far each and every day. At this level, you know it gets harder to do that as you done it for thousands and thousands of reps each and every day over years. There comes a point in time where it just becomes a mental game. You’re playing with yourself trying to figure out how you can beat yourself. What can you do to accomplish as many goals that you have? So it’s just one of those things where as you get more experience, you have to find ways to keep training far, and I think my coach does a good job of that.”
Young threw his personal best of 78 feet, 9.75 inches on his fourth attempt to win over defending national champion Colin Dunbar by a margin of 11 inches to clinch the title. The two-time All-American and 2016 Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Student-Athlete of the Year plans to start his season at the Hurricane Twilight Meet on Mar. 25 and also looks ahead to the outdoor season.
“My plans this outdoor season really are to make it back to the outdoor national championships for my final season,” said Young. “Make it out there and try to win this thing. Try to win another NCAA National Championship, and I know it will be tough. Hopefully, I would go far enough in the world standard and be able to compete in team USA in the world championships.”
Now on his final season, Young talks about his experience at the university and about his plans after college.
“My time at Southeastern has been really good,” said Young. “Nice and easy environment, very conducive to learning. Definitely, overall has been a great experience for me. In the Kinesiology department, I’ve had great professors there. As far as my plans after college, I haven’t quite decided yet. I don’t know if I want to continue to pursue education or I want to work.”
