DeGeorge

ELIZABETHTOWN — Sarah DeGeorge knows how to bring the hammer down.

The 2007 Butler graduate, a senior hammer thrower at Elizabethtown College, took it to the competition in a big way at the recent Mid-Atlantic Conference Championships at Messiah College.

She produced the best hammer throw of her career, launching it 127 feet, eight inches to win the MAC title. Her throw was five feet farther than her nearest competitor.

It was also the second-best hammer throw in school history — and first and only conference title of DeGeorge's collegiate career.

“That meant a lot to me,” DeGeorge said. “I've been working at this for four years. Since there is no hammer therow in high school, it's a whole new event to learn. The footwork is completely different.”

And because of low numbers, DeGeorge competed in the shot put, discus, javelin and hammer throw with the Blue Jays.

“My first two years there, we had seven members on the entire women's track team and I was the only thrower,” she said. “I had to try to score points for the team.

“It was hard in the conference meets because most of the other teams had multiple throwers who could specialize. It was a bit of a disadvantage.”

But DeGeorge persevered — something that wasn't lost on her coach.

“The hammer throw is a challenging event even by itself,” Elizabethtown coach Joel Hoffsmith said. “Sarah had to do everything for us, but she never complained.

“She was a great leader on this team.”

DeGeorge placed third in the discus at the Widener Invitational this season. One of four seniors on the team, she topped 121 feet in the hammer throw three times during the year before finishing the campaign with her best.

“She won a distinguished student-athlete award this year,” Hoffsmith said. “Sarah is an excellent student and a versatile athlete.

“We actually recruited her as a heptathlete out of high school because she ran the hurdles as well as threw. A knee injury forced her to concentrate on throwing and she was very productive for us.”

Elizabethtown's recruiting picked up during DeGeorge's junior year. The Blue Jays had 40 athletes on the women's track and field roster this season.

DeGeorge said it takes a year or two just to adapt to the technique of the hammer throw.

“My freshman year, I was only throwing 85 or 90 feet,” she said. “We brought in a throwing coach (Larry Nawa) late in my career here and he really helped me develop a thrower's strength.”

The hammer throw consists of a quick circular motion off the right foot, with the body very low to the ground.

“I'll do two complete spins before I throw,” DeGeorge said. “At the Division I level, you might see throwers doing four spins.”

A social work major at Elizabethtown, DeGeorge is now at Widener University doing graduate work. Her career as a competitive track athlete is over.

“But I'd love to coach at some point,” DeGeorge said. “I may search for a high school coaching job down the road.”