Track and field was originally just a way for senior communication studies major Darren Hendricks to train for football, but he has now become one of the best discus and hammer throwers at NSU.
Hendricks began running track in middle school, participating in events such as the 4×200 relay in order to gain speed for football. After a short time of being a runner, Hendricks was introduced to field events and began throwing both hammer and discus.
In 2015, Hendricks was the Peach Belt Conference Champion for the men’s discus throw. He also holds NSU’s school records for both the men’s discus and hammer throw.
I got the chance to sit down with Hendricks and ask him a few questions.
What do you think is the hardest part of competing in throwing events?
“Technique. The technique is always the hardest, especially for hammer. Not only are you trying to turn, but you’re also trying to make sure the hammer doesn’t pull you. Even though the hammer only weighs 16 pounds, when you’re swinging it, you’re trying to hold back 300 to 400 pounds, depending on how fast you’re swinging. The lifting can also get difficult, especially when you get up to heavier lifts, and you get sore ― you have to work through the pain. But aside from the lifting, technique is the hardest. There’s no such thing as a perfect technique or a perfect throw; there’s always one little thing that goes wrong. There will always be something that you have to adjust or have to fix.”
Do you have any specific tools that you use to motivate yourself to achieve good technique?
“I just think of it as pushing to Nationals. Getting a certain weight, getting better and getting stronger. If I can get there, I think of it as getting better and getting stronger, but if I don’t, I’ll get down on myself and push harder to improve. I’m always trying to get better.”
What has been your greatest accomplishment in track and field?
“Winning [the] conference, definitely. Winning [the] conference and breaking two school records have been my greatest accomplishments as an athlete.”
What do you think is the most rewarding part of being a member of the track and field team?
“The most rewarding part of being a member of the team is not only building a bond with my teammates, but it’s also been a great experience to be a part of the NCAA and getting to be a collegiate athlete. You get to pursue what you loved in high school, but you get to take it further and further as you move further in life.”
Do you plan to continue competing after college?
“I plan to keep competing. I want to try to push into the Olympics. If I give it a few years and keep getting better and better, then I could see myself making a run for it. It’s something that I just won’t stop doing ― I’m always going to keep doing it.”
Are there any athletes in the realm of track and field who inspire you?
“Yeah, but some of them are older and competed in the 80s, like Sergey Litvinov. He’s definitely one of the smallest throwers ever, but he’s one of the best throwers. He has the third-best mark in the history of the sport. So I really look to him for motivation.”
Darren Hendricks is also a contributing writer for The Current.
