A personal record two-and-a-half years in the making enabled former Rochelle Township High School track and field standout Zach Sanford to become an NCAA Division III national qualifier for the first time during his junior season with the University of Dubuque’s men’s track team.
It was admittedly a surprise for Sanford, who hadn’t eclipsed his high school shot put PR until the American Rivers Conference Indoor Championships earlier this year, when the former Hub recorded a heave of 16.38 meters (53 feet 9 inches) to take fourth place and secure his spot in the NCAA national meet. With his focus on maintaining power positions throughout his throws, Sanford posted four top-4 shot put finishes in the indoor season and took 20th at nationals.
“I ended up qualifying for indoor nationals, which was pretty unexpected,” Sanford said. “It was a huge confidence booster because I beat my high school PR with that throw and doing that on a big stage gave me more confidence to perform in front of a big crowd. I knew I had to PR to make the finals and when I did that, it gave my teammates and I a spark and we started feeding off each other’s energy. Technique-wise, I’ve learned to slow down and feel more control with my body. Getting into a good power position is the biggest technical cue I worked on this year.”
The national appearance was the first of many highlights during Sanford’s junior season with the Spartans. Sanford, who currently ranks fourth all-time in the shot put (16.38 meters) and fifth in the weight throw (17.65 meters) at Dubuque, landed four top-3 weight throw finishes including a first-place finish at the Spartan Shootout on Feb. 1. The RTHS alum took up all four throwing events in the outdoor season, making his javelin debut at the Mississippi River Rumble April 5.
Sanford’s outdoor season culminated with a first-place discus performance at the ARC Outdoor Conference Championships in May, when the former Hub thrower fired a new PR of 48.83 meters (160 feet 2 inches) to move himself into seventh on Dubuque’s all-time discus list. It was Sanford’s second discus win of the season and the first conference title of his collegiate career.
“I had a lot of confidence going into that meet,” Sanford said. “Discus was the only event I was throwing and my coach gave me the opportunity to focus on training for that event the entire week. I knew something special had to happen and even though the conditions at the throwing area were suboptimal, I decided they wouldn’t affect me and I’d throw farther… I just did it. I focused a lot on repping it out, staying balanced and getting into a good power position.”
Sanford competed in both shot put and weight throw during the indoor season, setting a season-best mark of 17.33 meters (56 feet 10 ¼ inches) in weight throw at the Spartan Shootout. Sanford earned starts in all four throwing events during the outdoor season, setting a PR of 50.47 meters (165 feet 7 inches) in hammer throw during the Meet of Champions at Augustana College in April. While Sanford only threw javelin twice, his brief experience in the event included a PR of 43.53 meters (142 feet 10 inches) at the Mississippi River Rumble.
“I really enjoyed the javelin,” said Sanford, whose goals for the outdoor season include setting additional PRs and qualifying for NCAA nationals. “I had a lot of fun in the two meets I did it… I really enjoy shot put during the indoor season, but when it comes to the outdoor season, I mostly focus on the discus and that’s become a favorite event of mine. Hammer throw is the hardest event, but it’s the most fun and the most rewarding event. I really enjoy it.”
Sanford, who’s currently studying science in secondary education, will be in Dubuque this summer gaining lab experience through a grant program at the university. The soon-to-be senior said his goals after college include pursuing a career as a high school chemistry teacher.
