By Tim Peterson, Sports Correspondent

February 6, 2014

Ludlow, MA --- Ludlow High School graduate Robert White has been a key member of the Worcester State University men's indoor track team during the past couple of years.

The two events that White, a junior, usually competes in at every meet are the shot put and the 35 pound weight throw.

"This season has been going very well for me," said White during a recent telephone interview. "I really didn't expect to make the progress that I've made, especially in the weight throw. I've improved my distance by over one meter in that event since last year."

White has already qualified for both the MASCAC/Alliance Championships and the Division III New England Championships in the weight throw.

"This is the first year that I qualified for the Division III New England Championships and I've done it three different time's already," said White. "It's a big honor for me. I've received plenty of support from all of my teammates and my coaches here at Worcester State.

"The first time I qualified was at the Dartmouth relays. It wasn't one of my better days and I struggled to make the finals of that meet. My best throw in the finals was 14.66 meters (48-1). It was my personal best at that meet."

The qualifying standard for the New England Division III Championships is 14.33 meters (47-1). He also qualified for two other meets with throws of 14.49 meters (47-6.50) and 14.93 meters (48-11.75), which are currently his personal bests.

"I set my current personal best at the Tufts Invitational," said White. "I was in the lead for almost the entire meet and I did it on my final throw of the day. I was very excited and the first thing I did was call my dad."

White will need to reach 15.35 meters (50-4.25) in order to qualify for the ECAC Division III Championships.

"I'm just going to take it one step at a time," White said. "I'm just going to try my best at every meet this season."

White has always received plenty of support from the members of his family.

"My parents (Bob and Barbara) have been coming to almost all of my sporting events since I was playing youth soccer," said White. "My father was a member of the Classical High School and Northeastern track teams. He was the person who got me involved in track when I was younger."

His younger sister Krystal will be a sophomore member of the Lady Lions in track and field this spring.

White, who was recently selected as MASCAC Athlete of the Week, started competing in the weight throw in college because it's not offered at the high school level.

"Bobby is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential," said throws coach Jim Lemieux. "He's improving every day and his confidence is sky high. "He has the potential to make a school record in the weight and hammer throws next year. His determination and work ethic are his greatest assets as a thrower."

White, who's a Communication major, was recruited by Worcester State head coach Al Halper, but he gives a lot of credit to Coach Lemieux for helping him become a better thrower since he became a member of the team.

"Coach Lemieux has definitely helped me out a lot during the past couple of years. All of my teammates have also helped me out a lot as well," said White.

White, who was the Western Massachusetts Champion in the shot put when he was a senior at Ludlow High School, throws the hammer only during the outdoor season. He still competes in the shot put during the indoor season.

"When I was in high school, Worcester State recruited me as a thrower. Instead of doing one event, I decided to compete in as many as I could. That's when I fell in love with the weight throw," said White.

White also gives a lot of credit to his success in college to Rebecca Gauvin, who's the track and field coach at Ludlow High.

"Coach Gauvin is one of the best coaches I've ever had," said White. "Without her helping me, I don't think that I would still be a member of the track and field team. She just made my high school years so much fun and she taught me so much. She was always there for me when I needed her.

"I still help out with the throwers at Ludlow High every spring."

Since becoming a member of the Lancers track team, White has improved a lot as a thrower.

"I've definitely gotten a lot stronger and bigger since I joined the team," said White. "I've improved on my form and my technique has improved a lot."

In the spring of his freshman year at Worcester State, White broke a bone in his left foot and he wasn't able to compete or practice for four months.

"That was probably the roughest experience that I've had," said White. "I still went to practice to support my teammates, but it was hard not to compete that season. I just worked very hard to recover from my injury."

After graduating from college next year, White is hoping to keep throwing at a few indoor track meets.

"I've still been able to compete at meets as an open athlete after I graduate next year," said White. "It's something that I'm definitely going to look into."

Before that takes place, White will be looking to continue his success as a member of the Worcester State track team during the next year.

Ludlow Register PDF – Page 17, Continued on Page 20

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