Thrower almost threw in the towel
Danes’ Harris was set to quit discus over row with her former coach
Venique Harris was ready to quit the discus last year.
Harris didn’t get along with her coach at the University of the West Indies in her native Jamaica. She was unhappy going to practice. Harris, whose personal best is more than 193 feet, saw her distances shrink by about 25 feet.
“I was always a good thrower, but I was missing the emotional aspect,” she said. “I lost my love for it because I didn’t like how the people around me were.”
Harris decided to transfer to the University at Albany, where she felt a strong Jamaican connection. Great Danes high jumper Matthew Campbell went to her high school and volunteer assistant Veleisha Gilet is also from the Caribbean nation.
“Originally, I didn’t want to come to school in the U.S.,” Harris explained. “I was worried about being homesick. But I didn’t like the atmosphere at UWI so I wanted to leave and this was the school that I’ve always wanted to come to.”
It’s been a great match this year. Regaining her enthusiasm, Harris has qualified for the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in Austin, Texas, this week.
The junior finished third with a school-record throw of 190-1 at the East Preliminary in Jacksonville, Fla., last month.
Harris is seeded sixth in the discus final, which will be held Saturday at the University of Texas.
Her goal is to throw farther than 60 meters (196.85), which could put her in position to win Ualbany track and field’s first Division I national title. The winner of this event is usually around 200 feet.
Ualbany assistant coach Abel Gilet, who is Veleisha’s husband, said he hopes Harris can crack the top three and even capture the championship.
“It’s possible,” Gilet said. “Things like this, it’s more about that day. Personal bests are great and everything, but this time of year, a lot of people’s nervous systems are really taxed. It’s really about who can salvage the best day and that’s usually who
wins.”
Among the competitors she’ll be facing are fellow Jamaicans Shadae Lawrence of Colorado State and Shanice Love of Florida State, who have both thrown farther than Harris.
“It’s a healthy competition,” said Harris, who has known Lawrence since elementary school.
Abel Gilet said Jamaica develops good discus throwers because of that country’s strong running program.
“The discus, believe it or not, is more of a sprint,” he said. “You want to basically run into the throw and then you throw.”
Harris began her career as a runner, but switched to discus at age 12 because she felt her coach was too strict.
Harris, who is 5-foot-7, said she uses her speed in the throwing circle to make up for her lack of size.
She throws left-handed, which is unusual in this sport and can put her at a disadvantage depending on the wind.
“We’ve had some trouble where they’ll have the (throwing) cage facing in a certain direction, and everyone else will have an advantage, but she won’t,” Abel Gilet said. “We do what we can. You can’t control that.”
The forecast calls for a high of 98 degrees in Austin on Saturday. That could be a welcome change for Harris, who’s dealt with conditions this spring far different than what she’s used to in Jamaica.
“The first year is always an adjustment year, but she’s adjusted pretty quick,” Ualbany head coach Roberto Vives said. “Especially to weather. That must be a shock. Going from 90-plus to snow she’s never seen in her life. But she’s had a great experience and we’re excited about the possibility. You know how discus goes. One good throw and you can win it all.”
That would be a remarkable turnaround for an athlete who was ready to put the discus away for good a year ago.
“I thank God every day that (the coaches) believed in me and gave me an opportunity to come here,” Harris said. “I feel like I’m working my way back up.”