Danielson breaks 60-foot barrier in shot put

ISU senior throws 60-5 3/4 at Big Sky indoor track meet

The chase is over.

Idaho State senior John Danielson, who has been trying to get over the 60-foot barrier in the shot put since last year, finally did so last Friday at the Big Sky Indoor Track and Field meet in Bozeman.

Danielson put the 16-pound shot 60 feet, 5 3/4 inches on his final attempt to finish second in the event.

"I was pretty happy, regardless of what place I got," Danielson said.

"When you throw 60 in college, that's kind of like the magic number.

"That was my goal all year," Danielson said.

"It was nice to get it done."

Danielson, a former Flathead athlete, flirted with that mark the whole meet, going 59-3 on his first throw, 59-4 on his second, 59-5 on his fourth and 59-11 3/4 on his fifth. Oddly enough, every time he threw the shot, he broke the ISU indoor record.

The old mark was 58-10 set by Eric Whitsit in 2004.

"I knew it would be close," he said of his final put.

"I've been close (to 60-0) in practice and stuff a lot, but I've never been closer than 59-3 in a meet until this year.

"Just the meet, the atmosphere had a lot to do with it," Danielson said of his consistent efforts in Bozeman.

"After my first throw, I knew I would make the finals, so I decided to just get after it."

David Nichols of Sacramento State took first place. His winning distance was 62-2 1/4. Former Flathead shot putter Tanner Rauk finished fourth, 56-1 3/4. Rauk is a senior at Montana State.

Danielson was also running out of time regarding his goal. There is one indoor meet left, a last chance qualifier this weekend in Seattle, and then the NCAA indoor meet in Fayetteville, Ark., the following week, if he qualifies.

Danielson says he will have to throw at least 61-0 in Seattle for a chance to compete in the NCAA event.

"One of my goals this weekend," he said.

"They usually take 14-18 people (to Nationals)."

And 61-0 would most likely put him in the mix.

"Realistically, I thought I could have hit it last year outdoors," Danielson said of the 60-foot mark.

"I've done better outdoors. You have longer (time) to train for it."

Danielson went to the NCAA outdoor regionals in 2006, finishing ninth with a distance of 58-6. That tied his best ever for that season.

"Little more (time) in the weight room," he said this year.

"When I started training, five days a week. Now about three or sometimes four if we don't have a meet."

Danielson, 6-foot-2, 255 pounds, also went on a diet.

"Dropped about 20," he said.

"A little heavier, slower last year when I was throwing. I felt a little slower in the ring, so I lost a little weight."

And that seems to have helped.

In high school, Danielson finished third in the shot put and discus at state his senior season at Flathead. That was a remarkable achievement considering he didn't start competing in both events until his sophomore year.

"(Flathead) coach (Bob) Raeth came and talked to the football team about doing track to stay in shape for football," Danielson said.

Danielson said his first ever throw was in the neighborhood of 41 feet. His school best with the 12-pound shot was 56-11.

Raeth was also the big reason Danielson ended up throwing for ISU.

"He was the one who called the coaches," Danielson said.

So Danielson walked on and is now on scholarship.

"I didn't know if I wanted to do sports in general," he said. "I wanted to concentrate on my studies."

Danielson will graduate this semester with a degree in psychology.

"Take a year off and work, probably graduate school (after that)," he said.

Danielson says if he has a great outdoor season, he may stay in Pocatello, Idaho, and train for the Olympic Trials.

"It all depends how I throw," he said.

"For me, if I threw 62 by the end of the year, I would be happy with that. So would my coaches."