Posted on April 16, 2007
With the final season of the JMU men’s outdoor track program coming to a close, it is easy to miss the individual achievements in all of the emotions.
For the past three years, junior Doron White has been an integral part of the JMU outdoor track team with his efforts in the shot put, discus, and most recently, the hammer throw.
During his high school career at Fauquier High in Warrenton, White excelled in track and football with distinguished honors in both. He moved on to JMU, where he began his career playing football, but left the team to later walk on to the indoor and outdoor track teams.
In White’s first season on the JMU track team, he stood out in both shot and discus with notable performances at major meets. In his first Colonial Athletic Association Championships in 2005, White placed fourth in the discus and third in the shot put.
This season White has continued to improve on his elite throwing status with a strong placing at the James Madison Open Track & Field Meet on Saturday.
Though White fell to injury during the first week of outdoors, he’s managed to recover and return to his peak levels. This was most noticeable after his second-place performance in the hammer throw. In only his second time competing in hammer throw, White’s heave of 47.40 meters was nearly two meters longer than his personal best.
“This was only the second time I had thrown the hammer in competition and felt that it was long overdue.” White said. “Considering the [weather] conditions, I felt pleased with my performance.”
Even after the hammer throw, White continued to impress with second-place finishes in both the shot put and the discus, throwing 12.81 meters and 42.40 meters, respectively.
“He improved today by three of four meters,” JMU throwing coach Eliese Zawacki said. “Hopefully next he will peak and we will see the big throws.”
This meet was the last home track meet for the men’s track team. JMU will host the CAA championships next week, but it will be considered a neutral site because it is the conference meet.
It was apparent, though, that White and the other athletes held that feeling of finality in the back of their minds.
“It is emotional at times, but right now it is important to stay focused on the competition,” White said.
White will be competing in next week’s competition in the shot put and hammer throw. He is seeded fifth in the shot put with his best indoor throw of 15.08 meters, and was seeded third in the hammer throw before his personal best Saturday. White is looking to stay steady and not do anything different in practice this week.
“You have to treat it like any other week. We will have a good week of practice and continue to maintain focus,” White said.
White’s emphasis on “we” exemplifies his leadership on and off the field along with his strong work ethic and sense of commitment.
“Doron is a very dynamic thrower,” Zawacki said. “He has the heart and he is definitely a driving spirit to the team.”
After this season concludes, White will continue to be involved with JMU track on a different level. “Next year I plan to stay involved with track and help the women’s throwers,” White said.
White’s time spent throwing for the Dukes can be best defined by Zawacki.
“[White] has set some records and he is definitely a spirit that’s going to be missed. It is contagious and makes our team have that really good feeling and closeness,” Zawacki said.
