Local track athletes mastering new events in college

<p>Hunter Fields and Ethan Pine entered their respective college track and field seasons as novices when it came to events they are currently attempting to master.</p><p>Events not offered in Indiana at the high school level.</p><p>Fields, a Franklin College sophomore who a year ago learned the intricacies of the hammer throw, has added the javelin throw to a track repertoire that already included high jump, shot put and discus. Meanwhile, the 3,000-meter steeplechase has Pine, a Wabash College freshman, expanding his horizons.</p><p>In both cases, a sense of curiosity was eventually replaced by enthusiasm.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p>Fields, an Indian Creek graduate, considers the hammer throw her best event. Pine, a Greenwood product who specializes in the 1,500-meter run, has embraced the steeplechase.</p><p>&quot;I honestly had no idea when I got here,&quot; Fields said. &quot;I knew nothing about the hammer throw and had seen javelin on TV during the Olympics. I knew nothing technical about it.&quot;</p><p>Fields set a new personal standard in the javelin by throwing it 27.32 meters (89 feet, 7 1/2 inches) last weekend at the Indiana Division III championships.</p><p>Fields also has a personal best of 33.78 meters (110 feet, 10 inches) in the hammer throw, which entails Fields spinning and releasing an eight-pound metal ball (16 for the men) attached to a grip by a chain and steel wire. Her goal is to reach 40 meters by the end of this season.</p><p>&quot;My main focus is definitely hammer, but I also love the javelin,&quot; Fields said. &quot;I do, honestly, wish we had had them in high school.&quot;</p><p>Pine specialized in cross country and track distance races at Greenwood. He qualified for the state track meet as a sophomore, junior and a senior in the 1,600, his best finish coming last season when he finished 13th in a time of 4:19.1.</p><p>When he got to Wabash, however, he slowly warmed to the idea of competing in the steeplechase — an event that features five barriers 36-inch barriers per lap, one of which sits in front of a water pit.</p><p>Unlike hurdles, the barriers are much sturdier and do not fall over if hit. Rules allow runners to get over the barrier by any means, though most, Pine included, step on them and jump off and continue with the race. The water pit is designed to reward those jumping furthest with the shallower water at the end.</p><p>Pine attempts to jump off with his right foot and have only his left foot touch water. This makes it possible for him to continue his stride and not break momentum. His steeplechase debut was at the DePauw Invitational earlier this month, where he finished fourth in 10:08.11.</p><p>“Initially, I was very hesitant. We started going through hurdle drills in the indoor season and my coach said he thought me and some of my teammates could be pretty good at it,” Pine said. “I like it a lot. I ran my first one and it was a blast. It’s a completely different race.”</p><p>Wabash assistant track coach Tyler McCreary is the school’s cross country coach. He said steeplechase is the most difficult track event, but also the easiest to become All-American in due to the high number of the competitors focused on regular distance races.</p><p>Early on, he saw something in Pine.</p><p>“Usually what I’m looking for is a guy with range where he has solid times in the mile and the 5K in track,” McCreary said. “I also look for someone strong and athletic. You start with some hurdle drills in the winter, but once they get to the (track) season they have some confidence.</p><p>“With Ethan, it’s his toughness. You have to be able to change rhythm a lot and handle adversity, and he’s kind of the whole package right now.”</p>