A Longer Road to Breaking Records

NORMAN - Junior thrower Julia Reedy threw for 61-9.75 at the Texas A&M Quadrangular two weeks ago, a mark that has advanced her in the record books. Recent history, but it is a feat that has been three years in the making.

Reedy did not start her collegiate career at the University of Oklahoma. Instead, she opted for a college a little closer to home. In fact, it was home.

In 2012, Reedy, as a freshman, threw for Saddleback Community College, located just 20 minutes from her house in Dove Canyon, Cailf. While at Saddleback, Reedy never picked up a weight, competing in the hammer throws only because the college didn't have an indoor track.

Incidentally, a throw just over 190-0 in the hammer during her sophomore year at Saddleback earned her the attention of colleges throughout the country, including the University of Oklahoma.

“I came on a visit to Oklahoma and just kind of fell in love with the program and the area,” Reedy said. “Obviously Coach (Brian) Blutreich was the main reason why I came here because he's a really good coach.”

Before Reedy was recruited to Oklahoma, she had never set foot in the state and had never been any farther east than Arizona. Her visit to Oklahoma was just the beginning of many firsts.

“By getting recruited here, I knew I was going to have to throw the weight,” Reedy said. “I was kind of excited for it but I didn't really know if I was going to be able to do it or not. I'm a little smaller on the scale of throwers.”

After she came, Reedy began to thrive on the field and in life. In her first meet as a Sooner, Reedy made it onto the Oklahoma all-time best list with the fourth best Sooner weight throw, a 58-3.00. She finished fourth in Big 12 Indoor in the weight throw with a 61-2.75 to move up to third on the career list in her first season.

However, the season was not without some disappointments.

In the 2014, Texas A&M Invitational, the women throwers did not perform as expected as no one placed higher than fifth. Reedy placed sixth with a throw of 57-4.75.

The disappointing performance in College Station, Texas, in 2014, provided the fuel for the fire in 2015. The Sooners and Reedy were out to prove themselves.

Going in to the home opener J.D. Martin Invitational, Reedy hoped to do just that by setting another personal record, but she missed the mark by just over six inches.

Her next opportunity came in the meet Reedy calls “our redemption.” The weekend after the home opener, the Sooners traveled to College Station to take on the Texas A&M Quadrangular once again.

“We went out there with a chip on our shoulder,” Reedy said. “In the first five throws, I was inching up barely, but on the sixth throw my coach said, 'Well, you better get second.'

“I kind of just went for it and let the technique we've been working on every day take over and I was able to get that PR.”

On the sixth throw, Julia set a personal record of 61-9.75, a throw good enough to advance her into a tie for second on the Oklahoma top-10 performance list.

“I don't see myself at this same spot anywhere else,” Reedy said. “If I had gone to another school, I would have probably improved as much as I could on my own. I don't think I would be at the level I am at now and not where I can see I'm going to be in the next year and a half.

“If I hadn't come to Oklahoma, I wouldn't be where I'm at right now in such a good place in life and in track.”

Reedy and her Sooner teammates are taking a break from competition this weekend. They will return to competitive action next weekend with the program sending entries to the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., the likely destination for Reedy; the Don Kirby Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M., and the Husky Classic in Seattle. After that, it is just two more weeks until the Big 12 Indoor Championships.

-- By Candace Hinnergardt, Student Intern, OU Athletics Communications