Toll Gate’s Jacobsen throwing her way to the top of the rankings

Matt Metcalf
Posted 5/26/15

Warwick isn’t exactly known for producing some of the top weight throwers in the country in the sport of track and field.

But Toll Gate junior Courtney Jacobsen is attempting to change that …

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Toll Gate’s Jacobsen throwing her way to the top of the rankings

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Warwick isn’t exactly known for producing some of the top weight throwers in the country in the sport of track and field.

But Toll Gate junior Courtney Jacobsen is attempting to change that perception this season, as she currently obtains the third-longest distance in the nation in the 4k hammer throw this spring.

That throw registered at 178 feet, six inches during the division championships on May 12 – more than 10 feet further than anybody else in Rhode Island this season.

Everything aligned perfectly for Jacobsen that day to achieve a throw that, obviously, earned her the division championship.

“My technique,” Jacobsen said when asked what was going right for her that day. “I’m very good at catching it in the right spot, and I was doing that very well that day. I’m sure there were other factors, but that felt very good that day.”

On Saturday, Jacobsen didn’t throw the hammer that far, but she did enough to win once again, earning another title at the Class B Championships at Barrington High School.

Barrington’s field was anything but ideal for the throwers, with the athletes having to throw uphill. Due to the conditions, the throwers lost distance on their throws, but after a rocky start, Jacobsen came through in the finals to earn the title of Class B champion.

“It was definitely a challenge to get used to it,” Jacobsen said of the throwing conditions on Saturday. “But I think I did well considering the circumstances, and I’m just going to look to keep improving up until states.”

Things didn’t go as Jacobsen and her weights coach, Tom Doyle, planned on Saturday, with the junior committing two fouls, but she found a way to win like always.

“The conditions weren’t fantastic – everyone had to compete,” Doyle said. “She’s such a technical thrower and the circle was a little bit off and the throw was uphill. But she battled back after two fouls and won.”

According to Doyle, that’s just the kind of kid Jacobsen is.

“I know every coach says that their kid is the hardest working kid, but she really is the hardest working kid,” Doyle said. “I think last year the only day that she took off was Christmas day. She just works and works and works every day.”

So the fact that Jacobsen persevered on Saturday was no surprise to Doyle.

But at one point three years ago, things didn’t always come so easy for Jacobsen.

She came into Toll Gate as a runner, and after some reluctance to switch to weight throwing, she gave it a shot.

Three years later, she’s one of the top hammer throwers in the country thanks in large part to unlimited hard work, dedication and to her coaches – particularly Doyle.

“That was a big surprise to me – I had never heard of weight throwing before,” Jacobsen said. “I came out to run to have something to do with my friends. They made me switch to (weight throwing) and I was like ‘I don’t want to do that, it’s weird.’ I turned out to be decent at it, kept practicing and learned to like it.”

Jacobsen also has talented teammates to push her.

Ani Armenakyan, in particular, has proven herself as one of the top athletes in the shot put over her high school career.

Having someone like that alongside her has helped Jacobsen tremendously.

“I love my teammates,” Jacobsen said. “We’re very supportive of each other, and can calm one another down – especially Ani. I do soccer in the off-season with her and we both just try to help each other out. A relationship like that really helps because this is so mental. I’m a much better competitor today because of my teammates and wonderful coaches.”

Jacobsen’s hammer throwing ability, along with her impressive academic standing has drawn interest from colleges around the country.

Although colleges aren’t allowed to officially recruit her until July 1, she has received some letters of interest.

One school that is allowed to contact Jacobsen is West Point, and it’s shown some interest in the Toll Gate junior already.

“She isn’t allowed to be contacted officially until July 1,” Doyle said. “But I’m sure she’ll be getting plenty of interest, particularly after the throw on May 12.”

“Hopefully, when the time comes, I’ll find a place that’s perfect for me,” Jacobsen said.

It looks as if hammer throwing, something that she didn’t even know anything about three years back, will now play a pivotal role in her college selection. But for now, Jacobsen still has plenty that she’d like to achieve before her high school career comes to an end.

Jacobsen is the top-ranked hammer thrower in the state this season, and she wants to keep it that way with the state championships approaching.

“Right now, I’m ranked No. 1 in the state, and I’d like to keep it that way,” Jacobsen said. “My goal is to win.”

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  • KeithJohnston

    Congratulations to Courtney! Well deserved article recognizing the accomplishments of a talented, dedicated and hard working young lady.

    Wednesday, May 27, 2015 Report this