Home|Sports|Hammer thrower Thurston looking to qualify for the OlympicsSports
Simba FrenchSend an emailAugust 4, 2023 336 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email
Bahamian national record holder in the women’s hammer throw Tahj’Neé Thurston is not headed to the World Athletics Outdoor Championships but she has her eyes set on making history at the 2024 Summer Olympics Games in Paris, France.
Thurston is at home and Guardian Sports caught up with her practicing. She looks to make a splash this upcoming season in the hammer, qualifying for the Olympics.
“I can be on the Olympic team because of my rankings and that’s why I’m trying to put in a lot of work now. I want to get to that point just to make sure my rankings are good so that I could potentially compete for The Bahamas when it comes to the Olympics. Practice has been going good even though my coach isn’t out here, I’m still able to remember the cues and execute them the best way I know how,” Thurston said.
Thurston has the national record in that event at a distance of 61.29 metes (m) – 201’ 1” – set in March at the West Coast Relays in Clovis, California. She did not have much action this past season, and is looking to compete more next season.
“I need to throw 79m to get to that Olympic level. This season, I haven’t competed in that much meets because I need to focus on school and I also work, so it was just like I have to prioritize. I did a few meets. This season, I had a very good throw of over 65m but I fouled. I am looking to potentially get that this upcoming season and hit 70m before the Olympics,” Thurston said.
The 25-year-old graduated from Fresno State University (California State University, Fresno) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration – Sports Marketing in 2021. She is still at Fresno State, pursuing a master’s degree in business administration and is looking to be completed by December. She trains with Joe Riccio, who is the throws coach at Fresno State.
“It’s been good working with coach. He has got me to progress so much. My technique has changed many times but as my technique keeps changing I continue to get better and better and things eventually start clicking. He’s the reason why I’m probably throwing over 60 meters right now because he’s more patient with me and he allowed me to make mistakes over and over again until I get it. I am a person who loves perfection, so I would go out there and practice until I at least get one throw that’s actually good,” Thurston said.
While at home, Thurston has been sending her coach videos and receives feedback from him. She practices six days out of the week and also goes to the gym and to the beach to train.
The former Anatol Rodgers Senior High School student-athlete got into that event in her freshman year at Fresno State in 2017 while also throwing discus. She also tried the weight throw before moving on to the hammer. Thurston admits she was skeptical at first but got used to it.
After she gets her master’s degree she said she will look to go professional. She is looking to compete in the Pan American Games which is set for late October to early November. After that, it is all about making the Olympic team and making history. The sky is the limit for Thurston.