State Champion spotlight: Alyssa Coyne Greely

State Champion spotlight: Alyssa Coyne Greely

Junior Alyssa Coyne of Greely won her first individual state title with a dominating victory in the shot put to capture the Class B title. We caught up with Alyssa to ask a few questions about her preparation before the meet, her mindset on meet day, and what she focuses on when she steps into the circle

What were your preparations leading up to the state meet?

My preparations leading up to the state meet were very similar to my preparations leading up to any other meet. With its being my third state meet I've had the time to experiment and adjust my routine based off of what works best. My physical preparations were practicing up until the weekend. Most coaches give their athletes an easy week up until the state meet but coach O'brien and I have realized over our three year together that that method doesn't work well for me. My biggest mental preparation is trying not to psych myself out. A huge problem for me in the past was getting overly nervous. The expectations people had for me, and the expectations I had for myself gave me anxiety.

How did you deal with the pressure and emotions that come along with competing in a state meet?

The pressure of being seeded first for the state meet freaked me out a little. I almost couldn't fathom the idea that what I had been working towards for years was actually happening. I tried not letting the pressure and emotions coming into this meet affect me, I immediately went from being nervous to being very serious as soon as I walked through the doors of Bates College. If there is anything I've learned over the years it's that being nervous doesn't help, I just told myself that I had to stay calm and do what I've done a thousand times.

When you step into the circle to throw what is your focus, do you have a set routine you follow each time?

When I step into the circle I try not to focus on anything. Overthinking something you've done so much is pointless. The only thing I really focus on is my breathing and clearing my head and I guess blocking out the noises. My "routine" is stepping into the circle and glancing behind me, to look at the forty foot mark that's been my goal all season. I raise the shot in my right hand and begin to lower the shot to my neck while I let out a deep breath, from there it's all muscle memory and hope, hope that I hit all the right positions. Most throwers don't grunt but I find it very helpful actually. Letting out a grunt is like the final burst of energy you're putting into the throw.

When you threw your winning effort of 39-0, did you know it was a good throw once you released it?

I've noticed with every good throw I've had, it never feels like it's going to be a good throw. I've actually realized that the good ones actually feel like bad ones, they're always unexpected because you're not used to hitting all the right positions. Even with throwing a 39 and winning I still wasn't completely happy with how I performed. I was slightly happy I was finally a champion but I was very unhappy I didn't hit that forty foot mark.

Coming into the season what were your goals and did you achieve them?

A couple of weeks before the official season began I told myself this was my year. I started lifting as something new to try and I honestly think it was a huge help, I'm a lot smaller than most throwers and lifting made me feel a little better about how small I am. My goals this season were to improve a little each week,to break forty feet and to finally get a championship. Unfortunately I didn't reach any of my goals. I wouldn't say I threw poorly this season because I won every meet but what most people don't understand Is that it's not always about winning. For me this season was about improvement, gradually getting better, and that isn't what happened as anyone can see by looking at the results week by week. Yes, I got my first shot put championship but I didn't break forty which was very frustrating for me. Thankfully I was able to go down to the New England meet in Boston on Friday and finally break forty feet which was completely unexpected. But like I said earlier the good ones are always unexpected.

How do you think winning an individual state title will effect you heading into outdoors?

Winning a state title will have no effect on my outdoor season. I'm gonna start all over and hope for the best. Train hard and hopefully get another championship.

Coyne's Shot Put Progression

• 2015 Indoor 40-0.75
• 2014 Indoor 37-3
• 2013 Indoor 31-9.75

2014-15 Results