In her third year of track and field at Concordia, Hovland blew the previous school hammer throw record out of the water.
“Apparently, everyone had known it was a really good throw except for me," she said.
The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Outdoor Meet is one of the biggest events of the season and Cobbers train for it all year. At this year’s meet in St. Paul, Hovland competed by throwing shot put, discus and hammer.
"I won the hammer throw event in the 2017 MIAC Championship Meet by 2.48 meters, or about 8 feet, and set a new school record for Concordia in the hammer throw, which hasn't been broken since 2003," she said. "I also managed to snag a third-place finish in the discus throw, so I upset two different events."
Despite hours of training, Hovland says she was surprised she beat the school record. With a previous best of 157-02, Hovland threw a 166-04 at this meet.
“We train all year, using a strict weightlifting schedule, two- to three-hour daily practices, and other competitions throughout the year to prepare for MIAC,” Hovland said.
She will continue training for her final MIAC competition.
“I'm hoping to break my own record again next year after training all summer and fall, as well as to win MIAC again and go to nationals,” she said.
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