Field Reports With Carson Fuller
March 31, 2016 | Track & Field
More than two years of frustration and expectation was wiped away last Friday as Carson Fuller ripped a javelin off into the Tempe sky. Back as a freshman in 2013, Fuller had a huge PR at NCAA Prelims to become a surprise NCAA Outdoor final site competitor. As a sophomore, Fuller developed much greater consistency, and advanced to the NCAA Outdoor meet for a second time, but a poor showing there left a bad taste in his mouth. What could have been a breakout 2015 season was then cut short just two meets in, as a knee injury derailed Fuller's year. So it clearly was a long-awaited, much-anticipated moment at the Pac-12 vs Big Ten Invite when Fuller got off a throw of 235-feet, 3-inches, on his fourth attempt of his season opener. That finally broke his old freshman PR of 227-11, and by nearly eight feet. Yet on the very next attempt, Fuller lined up another, going 241-0, moving him from outside the top-10 all the way to No. 4 in the Husky recordbooks, and setting the stage for what should be an exciting 2016.
GoHuskies: To get right out there in the first meet after how last year never really got going for you, to open with such a big PR must have felt terrific.
Carson Fuller: Sophomore year didn't end up how I wanted it to either, making the National Championship for the second time and performing poorly, that put some fire in my shoes. So coming out junior year and getting injured the second meet really put a damper on things. I was really eager to get that out of my system. The first throw felt really good, just stayed relaxed and hit some good confident throws at a good speed. I definitely felt good. A lot of room for improvement, but all in all it was a feel-good meet.
GH: Do you feel those are marks you could have thrown last year? Do you feel like you were poised for this breakthrough a year ago but just had a stroke of bad luck?
CF: It is hard to say. Everyone, all the older javelin throwers told me about body size, and what I could be throwing. I guess it was nice to actually do that instead of thinking and talking about what I could do. Last year things were feeling good and I think I could have gotten close, but it's hard to say. There is definitely a lot more in me.
GH: Is that what you feel like? You are still obviously getting closer to that potential but feeling like there is a lot more to come?
CF: Yes, we have been training well this year. You don't want to go out the first meet and throw the best throw of the season. We have been training, constantly getting better and improving. We have been training to peak when it matters. Training has been changing a little bit and geared more to loosening up and getting close to those bigger marks. With Pac-12's, regionals and nationals that is when we expect the big marks. But it just gives me more confidence in knowing coming out the first meet I can hit those marks.
GH: Obviously with Quinn and Curtis, you have a very accomplished pair of fellow seniors. Quinn coming back from an injury himself, and Curtis just missing the podium at nationals last year, they both must be pretty fired up for this season as well. What's the dynamic like in practice for you guys?
CF: It is a great environment. We are all eager to get out there and compete for our last seasons and the training environment is exceptional. We all get out and compete every day and we all want to do better and help each other do better. We are ready to go 1-2-3 at big meets and carry on the javelin tradition at UW.
GH: What happened specifically with your knee last year and how did the recovery go?
CF: I tore my patellar tendon. I was dealing with tendonitis throughout the year and first meet at ASU I injured it. Next meet I came out and on my third throw I felt a little pop, that was definitely disappointing. I had to have a PRP shot and was out until end of this last summer. But we've all helped each other get back from our injuries, and push through every day, and compete to get those big marks.
GH: How motivating was it with you and Quinn both out last year to see Curtis come out and have such a breakthrough year?
CF: Oh, it was great to see a guy like him step up when he was needed the most. We were really proud of him. He is great and he has a lot in him this year, even though it didn't happen the first meet, I know it will at some point. When Quinn gets back throwing, he's throwing well in practice, so he is going to get those marks too. Overall it's looking like a good season for all of us. We are expecting big things.
GH: Talk about coaching transition and staying on the course with Coach Schutz coming aboard. What has he brought to the table?
CF: It can be really beneficial to have a different coach's perspective. Different coaches emphasize different things. Training is somewhat similar. We toned down the lifting a little bit because that is not as necessary as the other rotation throwers. We have been doing a lot of conditioning, I personally have tried to drop down weight to increase the speed on the runway. Quinn is focusing on bulking up a little and getting some strength, same with Curtis. So Coach Schutz has been working with our individual needs and forming our training routine around those. It has been a good transition, he had great athletes at his last school. I'm sure he is happy to come in and have three senior jav throwers, he's open to learning from us too. Overall we love his training program and philosophy. He really pushes the idea, you get out what you put in. He wants people to take initiative and want to get better, instead of forcing people to show up every day.
GH: Is there anything technically with your throw that clicked this past week you have been trying to perfect over the years?
CF: In simple terms, mainly staying relaxed. You always hear that the big throws happen when you aren't trying to throw hard but are aggressive into it. A lot of it for me was just staying relaxed. My first three throws obviously weren't amazing because I was tensed up and eager to get out and throw. Next two I stayed relaxed and had one PR after another.
GH: Looking back on freshman year, when you had that big PR. Was that kind of a blessing and a curse?
CF: Consistency is a huge thing. You aren't good until you are consistent no matter how far you throw. I'd say that moreso improved my confidence more than anything. I didn't see it as a fluke. Every thrower can hit that perfect technique in one throw and throw it far. It was more just a matter of getting back to that and doing it consistently. And improving upon that. Sophomore year I had some throws around that mark throughout the year and didn't perform well at Nationals which was again a bummer, and my junior year getting injured. But it definitely fueled the fire this year. Finally hitting that 70 meter mark was a really good feeling. Now the emphasis is doing that consistently and improving.
GH: You're majoring in biochemistry, correct?
CF: Yes, and I plan on going to medical school. It has definitely been tricky trying to manage my time this year. I have other extracurricular activities as well, I am doing medical research at Swedish Medical Center, the class schedule has been pretty hard. Overall I have made it work and have been really focused on things that matter this year. Throwing hard and pursuing my dreams in the medical field.
GH: When did you decide the medical school route was what you were most passionate about?
CF: I kind of decided that freshman year and after that I started shadowing doctors and felt really passionate and pursued it heavily since then.
GH: Anyone in your family a doctor?
CF: No doctors in the family, a lot of pilots. But when I got to this height I knew I was too tall to do that (laughs), and it wouldn't be too comfortable for me. I saw a different career there.
GH: With your stature a lot of people probably see you and assume you're a football or basketball player, and you played both in high school. Did you ever get recruited as a football or basketball player?
CF: No, I played them growing up. I was kind of a late bloomer. I had a huge growth spurt after senior year of high school. I didn't put on the weight or the muscle until freshman and sophomore year of college. I considered playing football, or walking onto basketball but I evaluated where I had most potential, and I saw that in track. Freshman year I set a goal to make Olympic trials and that is definitely in the near future here.
GH: If you keep improving, have you started to think much about throwing post collegiately?
CF: Yes, I have definitely thought about it, and I have talked about possibly getting last year back. I want to obviously pursue my medical career and get on that with that but there is definitely more potential out there so I have to decide where I want to put my eggs right now. I am taking a gap year anyway before next summer when I apply to med schools so I'll have next year off. It is more of a matter of do I want to pursue research at Swedish and train at the same time, or if I want to take more classes. It depends on if I stay healthy, keep improving, then I will definitely be throwing post-collegiately.
Players Mentioned
