Maloney on podium at New Balance Nationals
He’s competed in high-level track and field meets, before large crowds, while in high school.
But Pat Maloney relishes opportunities to get some “me” time, practicing discus throws with his head coach Chris Shaffer. That’s been at the core of his medal-winning performances over the past month ... performances marked by the Methacton graduate launching the plate further and further.
Maloney’s latest outing was in the recent New Balance Nationals Outdoor meet at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, N.C. He placed fourth in the boys Emerging Elite Division with a top throw of 49.55 meters (162 feet, seven inches), almost four feet more than the 158-10 that earned him a seventh-place medal in the PIAA Championship Meet’s Class AAA bracket.
“Since the post-season,” he said, “I’ve had shorter practices, 1-on-1 with the coach. I’ve been able to get many more reps in than when the whole team practices.”
A looser feeling also contrib-
uted to Maloney’s big showing at New Balance. It was in the wake of a high-school season that saw him win gold at the Pioneer Athletic Conference meet with a 149-7 and place third in the District 1-AAA meet with a 156-2.
“At states, my goal was to place in the top eight and get a medal,” Maloney said. “I was seeded eighth and placed seventh, so I reached that goal.
“The New Balance meet was more sun and vacation. It wasn’t as serious as a district meet. I had a more relaxed mindset.”
Maloney’s medal-claiming throw came on his first try. He came close on his fourth throw, going 49.28 meters while his others were in the 46-47 meter range.
“I was in the first flight,” he recalled, “and I made the finals on that one throw. There were about 40 competitors in the event.”
Qualification for the New Balance Nationals requires a throw of at least 159-2 in an invitational or PIAAofficiated meet, Maloney qualified at an invitational hosted by West Chester Henderson, one of five invitationals in which he competed this spring.
He won the discus event in four of them, the lone exception a third at the Jim Kelly Invitational. In PAC duals this spring, he went undefeated in the event.
“I’m definitely going to keep working and practicing,” he said of his summer plans. “If I can get a hammer (for hammer throw), I want to practice that, too.”