Christina Hertner sets to unload in senior girls' shot put, at the Thames Valley Region Tri-County track and field meet. Hertner won the event, with a best throw of 11.77 metres. (photo / Rob J. Ross)

Hertner returns to

throwing circle

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

By Rob J. Ross

ST. THOMAS, Ont. - Christina Hertner almost quit track and field.

Following  a year away from the sport, Hertner not only is back competing, she has set lofty goals.

The Lord Dorchester Secondary school student won senior girls' shot put and placed second in discus, at the Thames Valley Region Tri-County championships, at Parkside Collegiate.

Hertner will compete in both events at the WOSSAA meet, May 12-13, at Western University, in London.

A best throw of 11.77 metres won shot put, by over a metre.

"I was hoping for 12 but it's ok. All of my throws were over 11," Hertner said. "I am very happy. I'm going for consistency now."

Discus didn't go as smooth, as it wasn't until her final throw that Hertner vaulted in to second place, with a best throw of 33.97 metres.

 "I'm was aiming for 35 but I faulted four times out of six. My first one was low but I had one in. I was sitting in sixth place for awhile and that was stressful because it's top six that move on."

Rebecca Chouinard, of St. Thomas St. Joe's, won discus with a toss of 35.04 metres and was second behind Hertner in shot put.

Tri-County is the first step in Hertner's goal of returning to OFSAA, the high school provincial championships, where she competed twice before.

"Just making it there (OFSAA) is incredible," said Hertner.

In grade nine, as a midget competitor, Hertner placed fifth, in javelin, ninth in discus and 11th in shot. A year later, as a junior, Hertner was seventh in shot and 12th in discus. She missed qualifying for OFSAA as first year senior, with her interest waning during 2014.

"I almost stopped doing track and field as I wasn't enjoying it in grade 11. I needed that year away from it."

Hertner spent the 2015 season in Germany, on a student exchange. Around the same time, she received interest from Western University about joining their team. That rekindled her interest.

"I wanted to see if I could make an university team and that's what pushed me through," said Hertner, who ultimately chose the University of Ottawa for her post secondary education.

Hertner, who calls Nilestown home, trains with the London-Western Club, as well as at LDSS.

"I practice after school on the baseball diamond. But it's different than a smooth surface. I train at Western three times a week so I do have access to a (smooth) circle," said Herter. "All the circles are different. You have to get in to the circle early at competitions and get use to it."

Hertner will continue to aim for 12 metres in shot put and over 35 metres in discus, bettering her opportunity to return to the provincial meet.

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