DCD grad Brittany Mann finally starting to feel like she belongs
Brittany Mann is no longer intimidated by the uniform she has always wanted to wear.
It has taken the former indoor and outdoor state shot put champion at Birmingham Detroit Country Day almost two years to realize she belongs in one of the premier track and field programs in the country.
Mann, a redshirt freshman, has overcome a disappointing indoor season at Oregon to set an outdoor school shot put record and qualify for this weekend’s NCAA West Preliminary in Fayetteville, Ark.
“It was scary at first wearing a uniform that has so much tradition behind it,” said Mann, who finished second at the Pac-12 Championships on May 18 with a program-record mark of 55-feet-5. “I just had to remember that this is what I’m supposed to do. It’s no different than high school. It was a matter of me finding my place on the team. I knew the type of thrower that I was.”
Mann, who had wanted to compete for Oregon since she won the bantam shot put title at the 2004 Junior Olympics at Eugene’s Hayward Field, only had a best of 50-2 ¾ in the shot put during the indoor season. She finished seventh at the MPSF Indoor Championships with a mark of 48-10 ¼.
“It was a good learning season for me,” Mann said of her first indoor season. “I was pretty nervous not really knowing what it was going to be like.”
Mann started the outdoor season with a win at the Oregon Preview on March 22 with a toss of 53-4 ½. That began a string of seven straight victories in the shot put with a best mark of 53-6 ½ heading into the Pac-12 Championships.
“Once I got a couple of meets under my belt, it got a little easier,” Mann said. “Of course, there were some things with technique that we improved.”
Mann said she was also motivated by competing daily at practice with some of the best athletes in the country.
“Being able to practice with those guys pushes me to do better,” Mann said. “In high school, I was competing with myself. So being able to have that type of competition in practice is incredibly helpful.”
Mann had to overcome a pair of foot fouls to unleash her school-record throw of 55-5 and help the Ducks capture their sixth consecutive Pac-12 title. She enters the NCA A West Preliminar y ranked No. 6 among the qualifiers.
“We really haven’t been looking necessarily where I am ranked,” Mann said. “It’s all about just going out and getting a good mark to qualify for nationals. Regionals is just the first step. It is just a matter of going out and making sure I qualify.”
Missouri’s Kearsten Peoples has the best mark with a 58-8 ¾. Three others have thrown 57 feet or better. The top 12 finishers will advance to the NCAA Championships set for June 11-14 at Hayward Field.
“I really think a 55 or 56 would be good enough,” Mann said. “Of course, I am going
Personal: to go out and try to throw my best. I don’t really see a lot of people going out there and getting their PR. I think they will be waiting to do their best at nationals.”
On Sunday, Mann was named the recipient of Oregon’s Harr y Ritchie Inspirational Award, which is given to the female track and field athlete whose athletic achievement and lead- ership provide inspiration to their teammates. She hopes to continue her breakout season through long enough to help the Ducks win their first national outdoor title since 1985.
“That would be fantastic,” Mann said. “You work all year to be able to go to nationals. To be able to help my team score some points and win a national championship would be great.” Grand Valley State senior Chris Cunningham (Milford) : Named to the PING All-Midwest Region team for the second year in a row after leading the Lakers in scoring average (75.01) and posting four top-five finishes. Notre Dame freshman midfielder Sergio Perkovic (Birmingham Brother Rice) : Fueled the Irish’s comeback bid in Monday’s NCAA Championship against Duke with all five of