State Champion spotlight: Samantha Curran Thornton Academy

State Champion spotlight: Samantha Curran Thornton Academy

Sophomore Samantha Curran of Thornton Academy won the Class A shot put title as she had a huge personal best throw of 38-0 3/4. Curran's win helped the Golden Trojans to a second straight indoor state title. We caught up with Samantha to ask a few questions about her preparation before the meet, her mindset on meet day, and what it meant to hoist the championship trophy.



What were your preparations leading up to the state meet?


During championship season, all the TA throwers took it easy with our training so we wouldn't injure ourselves. For me, in practice, I set distance goals for myself throughout the week; this is helpful for me because I am very goal oriented in throwing. Mentally, I knew I needed to prepare for anything to happen during the meet, that way I wouldn't become as stressed or upset if something were to go wrong.


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


I try to think about championship meets as being equal to a regular season meet. I believe that when people start to think of a state meet as more than just another meet, even though it is, the stress and pressure to place is more present. I tried to be more relaxed and have fun - cheering on my team and watching the other events - because I throw better when I'm relaxed.


You threw over 2ft further than your seed in the shot put to win it all, What can you attribute the personal best too, and what does it mean to be the state champion as a sophomore.


It feels great to be a state champion, whether I am a sophomore or not. I couldn't be happier with my performance. As far as my distance, I think that the adrenaline kicked in after I fouled on my first throw (my first foul of the season) and after seeing Maddie foul out as well. I thought of the boys' shot put - how shocking it was to see the top two seeds foul out - and I didn't want a repeat of that in the girls' shot put. I took all of my nervous energy and excitement and put it all into my throw - the 37 ft. The last throw - I was relaxed and I threw 38 ft.


You were able to help your team to the state title, what was the experience like hoisting the trophy at the end of the meet?


It was a great feeling to hold the trophy up for the third time in a row. I believe the team has come so far, we have all grown through the season and the results paid off by the state meet. Being able to contribute to the team to get the state championship was a great feeling for me. I'll never forget it.


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


My main goal was to reach 37 feet by the end of the school year, let alone by the end of the indoor season. I passed my goal by a foot. I did want to win another state championship title with my team; I never thought I'd be a state champion myself. I think that it's the goals you never knew you had that you accomplish that are the greatest feeling.


How do you think winning the individual state title will affect you heading into outdoors?


I don't think that the state title will really affect me going into outdoor. I do think that I will be more confident in myself, since I know where I can get, distance wise. I hope I can repeat my state win during outdoor, but what I really want to do is continue improving as a thrower.




Curran's Shot Put Progression

  • 2015 Indoor 38-0.75
  • 2014 Indoor 31-2

2014-15 Results

Shot Put (Graph)38-0.75
37-3.759th
2015-02-2728th New England Indoor Track & Field Championships»
38-0.751st
2015-02-16Class A Indoor State Championship»
34-52nd
2015-02-07SMAA Southwesterns Championships»
35-10.251st
2015-01-31SMAA makeup @ Colby»
34-9.751st
2015-01-17SMAA: Bonny Eagle, McAuley, Noble & TA»
33-68th
2015-01-09Dartmouth Relays»
33-5.51st
2015-01-03SMAA: Deering, Gorham, Portland & TA»
32-41st
2014-12-20SMAA: Biddeford, Massabesic,Scarborough, & TA»
33-21st
2014-12-13SMAA: Cheverus-Marshwood-TA»