Hall’s long road to first World Championships
Published:Sunday | July 17, 2022 | 12:06 AM
EUGENE, Oregon:
GOOD THINGS come to those who wait, just ask discus thrower Samantha Hall, whose hopes of making a World Athletics Championships debut happened at the age of 29.
It has been a long road for Hall, who had to face a nervous wait to confirm that she qualified in the top 32 to make it to the World Championships.
Hall threw a personal best 62.92 metres and was the national champion, but was still short of the 63.50 metres automatic qualifying standard for the Tokyo Olympics last year. Even so, there was a chance of making the trip but she only just missed out, falling one place outside of the rankings.
While the same scenario presented itself this season, history did not repeat itself, much to Hall’s delight.
“It’s been a rough journey and a challenging season for me, and I am grateful that I am here and especially as this is my first World Championships,” Hall told The Sunday Gleaner.
“(Last year) was very disappointing for me, so for this year, I told myself that I had to make it, and so I kept pushing.”
2021 FORM
Hall has not thrown over 60 metres this season, with her season’s best being 58.01. While short of the standard, Hall said it was important for her ranking points to be consistent enough to get through. Now with a space in the competition, she says she hopes she reaches her 2021 form which could land her a spot in the final.
“It (my mindset) wasn’t much different from last year. But the (important) thing was getting the points. Even though I didn’t get the distance, I tried to get into the top 32. I try to do better at my technique. So far, I am working on it and hopefully, I can make the finals,” Hall said.
Someone who will be in her corner is her training partner Chad Wright, who will compete in the men’s discus throw. Hall said that when she had her own doubts about finally making her first senior team, Wright’s confidence in her never wavered.
“He said that I know you will make it even though I wasn’t sure. I was saying that midseason because it was a challenging season at the start, but it’s all about the finish. We both screamed. He has been a good motivator for me,” Hall said.
Hall’s career has been a lesson in patience and persistence, and she says those are the qualities she wants to emulate. The qualifying rounds for the women’s discus begin tomorrow.