Look who’s taLking

Melissa Dunham ’17, Thrower

How do people react when you tell them you’re a thrower?

Some people will try to mimic the shot put and discus, which is funny. Normally people don’t know what a hammer is—we’re not throwing construction tools around. It looks like a shot put with a wire and a handle.

How has your experience as a high school cheerleader helped you with throwing?

You use similar muscles, and being able to jump and throw people in cheerleading has the same element of explosion that throw- ing events have.

Can you explain “explosion?”

When you throw something you can even- ly distribute your energy throughout your windup or try to hold onto a lot of energy and release it all at once—like a cannon or firework. This is what we aim for when throwing.

What makes you a good fit for your sport?

Even before kindergarten I embraced chores that required strength—shoveling snow off the driveway with my dad or mov- ing things around in my own wheelbarrow.

How did you do this season?

In shot put I threw over 43 feet, one foot above my high school record. In discus I threw 150 feet, 2 inches at the Penn Relays, which was a personal best and a big mile- stone. I’m very excited to see how much I can improve here. I hope to beat the Dart- mouth discus record of 157 feet.

at 5-foot-6, 160 pounds aren’t you small for a thrower?

Yes. Most coaches think the taller you are, the wider your wingspan and the likelier you are to get a better push on the throwing implement, but I can compete with girls who are 6 feet tall. Our throwing coach, Mi- chelle Clayton, is 5-foot-4 but was an All- American hammer thrower. She gives me hope for pursuing a post-collegiate career.

Isn’t throwing dangerous?

Hammer and javelin are illegal in my home state, Illinois, because of fatalities due to those events. That’s why we take extra pre- cautions. You should always stand behind the net. If you’re in the field retrieving an implement, never turn your back to the ring!

“Guys respect a girl who has the nerve to do a masculine sport.”