CORPUS CHRISTI-  Texas A&M-Corpus Christi senior Hickel Woolery turned in a record-setting performance Thursday afternoon to advance to the finals of the discus throw at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by the University of Arkansas at McDonnell Field.
“I am just more relaxed and trying to have fun with it,” said Woolery, who is competing at the national meet for the third time in his career. “I am trying not to think too much out there. I am not worrying about fouling. I am just trying to get some good throws off.”
Woolery, who advanced to the national meet as an at-large selection, posted the best throw of his career to place second in the first flight with a mark of 58.89m (193’2”). It was the fifth best mark of the day out of 25 competitors. Woolery shattered his prior best and old school record of 57.74m (189’4”) that he set in winning the Texas Relays earlier this season.
“It all comes down to execution,” said Islander throws coach Ray Carter. “At the regional meet, he rushed every thing he was doing and never got going. We emphasized trying to slow down so he can keep his body under him. The finals will be tough, but anything can happen if continues to fine tune his technique.”