Bowling Green State University Athletics
Brooke Pleger Brings Home Gold Medal
August 09, 2014 | Women's Track and Field
Kamloops, British Columbia – Bowling Green State University senior Brooke Pleger threw the hammer 211-feet-11 (63.60 meters) to win a gold medal for Team USA at the North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) U23 International Athletic Championships Friday night.
"I felt like I was on top of the world," Pleger said. "It was such an honor to get this opportunity. I was thrilled to wear my USA jersey and win gold for my country."
Five of Pleger's six throws were at least 60 meters and two were over 63 meters. Canada's Jillian Weir earned the silver at 63.85 meters and Team USA's Brittany Funk earned bronze at 60.99 meters.
"What a great way to end a historic season; competing for your country and bringing home a gold medal," BGSU head coach Lou Snelling said. "She has represented this program, department, University and now her country in a first class manner. We are all very proud. Now Brooke gets to take a much deserved break after competing since the winter."
"I couldn't think of a better way to close out Brooke's season," BGSU throws coach Matt Conly said. "To get to bring it to a close with a win in your first-ever international competition is pretty special. I give Brooke a ton of credit. This meet was very late in the year and is not typical at all for a collegiate athlete. It was a long road to this point and she kept grinding and working and it showed. I am so proud of what she has been able to accomplish this season."
The meet concludes a long and successful outdoor season for Pleger that began with a victory at the All-Ohio Championships in April. During the course of the collegiate outdoor season, she set facility records at Bowling Green, Cincinnati and Kentucky and was the second-ranked hammer thrower in the nation for much of the year. She placed second at the NCAA Regional preliminary meet and third at the NCAA National Championships, the best result for a BGSU women's track and field student-athlete in progam history.
Following the season, Pleger competed at the USA Track and Field Championships, recording the best result among all collegiate competitors, qualifying her to compete at the NACAC Championships.
A two-time All-American, Pleger will return to BGSU for her senior season in 2014-15. Along with her on-field success, Pleger is also an Academic All-American who holds a 3.72 grade point average in nursing.
BGSU senior hammer thrower Brooke Pleger will represent the Falcons when she competes for Team USA at the U-23 North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) International Athletics Championship in Kamloops, British Columbia Aug. 8-10. Pleger will compete in the hammer throw on Aug. 8 at 7:20 pm. But prior to that, she has the unique opportunity to train at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. During that time, Pleger will be checking in with BGSUFalcons.com and blogging about her trip. This is her second entry.
-- Photo gallery of Brooke's Trip
-- Part One of Blogging With Brooke
-- Part Two of Blogging With Brooke
-- Part Three of Blogging With Brooke
-- Part Four of Blogging With Brooke
"I felt like I was on top of the world," Pleger said. "It was such an honor to get this opportunity. I was thrilled to wear my USA jersey and win gold for my country."
Five of Pleger's six throws were at least 60 meters and two were over 63 meters. Canada's Jillian Weir earned the silver at 63.85 meters and Team USA's Brittany Funk earned bronze at 60.99 meters.
"What a great way to end a historic season; competing for your country and bringing home a gold medal," BGSU head coach Lou Snelling said. "She has represented this program, department, University and now her country in a first class manner. We are all very proud. Now Brooke gets to take a much deserved break after competing since the winter."
"I couldn't think of a better way to close out Brooke's season," BGSU throws coach Matt Conly said. "To get to bring it to a close with a win in your first-ever international competition is pretty special. I give Brooke a ton of credit. This meet was very late in the year and is not typical at all for a collegiate athlete. It was a long road to this point and she kept grinding and working and it showed. I am so proud of what she has been able to accomplish this season."
The meet concludes a long and successful outdoor season for Pleger that began with a victory at the All-Ohio Championships in April. During the course of the collegiate outdoor season, she set facility records at Bowling Green, Cincinnati and Kentucky and was the second-ranked hammer thrower in the nation for much of the year. She placed second at the NCAA Regional preliminary meet and third at the NCAA National Championships, the best result for a BGSU women's track and field student-athlete in progam history.
Following the season, Pleger competed at the USA Track and Field Championships, recording the best result among all collegiate competitors, qualifying her to compete at the NACAC Championships.
A two-time All-American, Pleger will return to BGSU for her senior season in 2014-15. Along with her on-field success, Pleger is also an Academic All-American who holds a 3.72 grade point average in nursing.
BGSU senior hammer thrower Brooke Pleger will represent the Falcons when she competes for Team USA at the U-23 North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) International Athletics Championship in Kamloops, British Columbia Aug. 8-10. Pleger will compete in the hammer throw on Aug. 8 at 7:20 pm. But prior to that, she has the unique opportunity to train at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. During that time, Pleger will be checking in with BGSUFalcons.com and blogging about her trip. This is her second entry.
-- Photo gallery of Brooke's Trip
-- Part One of Blogging With Brooke
-- Part Two of Blogging With Brooke
-- Part Three of Blogging With Brooke
-- Part Four of Blogging With Brooke
Thursday, Aug. 7
Thursday morning Britt (Funk) and I woke up thinking breakfast was served until 10am. We got over there around 9:15am only to find out they stopped serving breakfast at 9am. Luckily the kitchen staff was very friendly and brought us out some food since we had just missed everything. After breakfast we had some time to relax. I wasn't going to practice until 3pm since Matt (Conly) would be driving in from Vancouver. I spent that time scrolling through Pintrest.
Thursday morning Britt (Funk) and I woke up thinking breakfast was served until 10am. We got over there around 9:15am only to find out they stopped serving breakfast at 9am. Luckily the kitchen staff was very friendly and brought us out some food since we had just missed everything. After breakfast we had some time to relax. I wasn't going to practice until 3pm since Matt (Conly) would be driving in from Vancouver. I spent that time scrolling through Pintrest.
Around 12pm, Brittany and I went over for some lunch and then got ready to head out for some throws. Practice felt better today than it did on Monday and Tuesday, so I started to feel a little more confident about competing Friday. After taking five throws I made my way up to the weight room for a short lift. I think the lift really helped, because I felt really good afterward. Matt took Brittany and I over to Walmart so we could get some snacks for our room. We had a team meeting at 7pm in the lobby of our hotel. It was pretty cool seeing the entire team USA in one area. We all introduced ourselves and went over the format of the competition. After the team meeting I had signed up with one of the team massage therapists to get a little work done on my lower back. It helped out immensely. The rest of the evening was spent relaxing.
Friday, Aug. 8
Friday I woke up with one goal in mind, win the day. Brittany and I headed over to eat around 11:30am and then met up with the team for a team picture. After the team picture we all went as a team over to the indoor track area for the NACAC Opening Ceremonies. I must say, it was quite an interesting experience. There were several different people that spoke, there was a band that played some music, and there was even some dancers for entertainment. It was quite a show.
Friday, Aug. 8
Friday I woke up with one goal in mind, win the day. Brittany and I headed over to eat around 11:30am and then met up with the team for a team picture. After the team picture we all went as a team over to the indoor track area for the NACAC Opening Ceremonies. I must say, it was quite an interesting experience. There were several different people that spoke, there was a band that played some music, and there was even some dancers for entertainment. It was quite a show.
After the opening ceremonies I spent some time chatting with my mom and grandma who made the trip out to Kamloops to watch me compete. I was really excited to see them and to share this experience with them. I feel really blessed to have such a supportive family, my BGSU family as well.
Around 4:30pm Brittany and I took our hammers to get weighed in and then had a light dinner since we would be competing at 7pm. We checked into the call tent and that was another interesting experience. They actually searched our bags to make sure everything we had was legal. It wasn't something I had ever had done to me before, so it was a little weird but I guess this is how they do it on the international stage. We got brought down for warm ups and that was when I really started to get goosebumps. Just knowing that I was about to compete for my country, instant chills.
Around 4:30pm Brittany and I took our hammers to get weighed in and then had a light dinner since we would be competing at 7pm. We checked into the call tent and that was another interesting experience. They actually searched our bags to make sure everything we had was legal. It wasn't something I had ever had done to me before, so it was a little weird but I guess this is how they do it on the international stage. We got brought down for warm ups and that was when I really started to get goosebumps. Just knowing that I was about to compete for my country, instant chills.
Warm ups felt the best I had felt in weeks, so I was excited to see what I was able to put together for the meet. In my series, I ended up having 5 throws over 60m, 2 were over 63m and my best throw of the meet was 64.60m. I had one foul that was a foot foul (I fell out of the front of the ring) that I think would have been around 64-65m.
I was incredibly happy to have such a solid series this late in the year. August is a long time to go for a college track and field athlete, so I felt very good about those numbers. Going in for my final throw, I knew I had already won the meet, and that was such an incredible feeling.
I was incredibly happy to have such a solid series this late in the year. August is a long time to go for a college track and field athlete, so I felt very good about those numbers. Going in for my final throw, I knew I had already won the meet, and that was such an incredible feeling.
We finished the evening with awards and I got to stand on podium in first place, my flag wrapped around me while I listened to the national anthem play. I felt like I was on top of the world. It was such an honor to get this opportunity and to make this meet. I was thrilled to wear my USA jersey and win gold for my country. It felt awesome.
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