T&F: Post card kind of summer
It's been a postcard kind of summer for J.C. Lambert.
The former Harrisburg High School standout and former Saluki track and field star hasn't hung up his track cleats just yet as he has spent a good portion of his summer traveling the states.
Back in June, Lambert competed at the USA Championships in Eugene, Oregon where he placed in the hammer throw, tossing 72.49 meters or 237-feet-10 inches.
That was good enough for a fourth place finish for Lambert and by doing so, Lambert qualified for the North America Central America Caribbean U23 Championships coming up this week.
The games will be held in Costa Rica and Lambert will be participating in competition Friday through Sunday.
The goal for Lambert is simple: win. But the former Bulldog and Saluki knows the importance of patience.
"First order of business is to make the finals," Lambert said. "Then get on the medal stand. Of course, I would love to win this thing, but I also don't know what kind of competition I'm going to have. I know there are a couple of good people involved and Cuba has some good throwers. I've just got to stay patient and be on top of my game. I feel like I have a good shot of getting a top-three finish if I throw really well."
It would have taken a throw of 76 meters for Lambert to qualify for the World Games, and after that the next two finishes qualified for the Pan-Am Games. Dating back to the USA games, Lambert reflected on how much extra time he has been putting into his routine to get ready for these summer games.
"For USA's, I had to peak out and peak out totally, so I was ready to go. Ever since then, I'm putting in a lot of work. The first few weeks were tough, it was a lot of throwing, lifting, etc., I think here lately, I've shown some good signs in practice."
Lambert said he's already had a couple of personal best throws in the hammer and the time to compete cannot get here quick enough.
"Oh yeah, I have the itch," Lambert said. "If I had to go today, I would be ready. I only had five or six weeks to prep for this after the USA's, but even for the USA's, I was ready to go. It's been the best prep and peak I have had in my life. I could do no wrong that day. I had a foul and my best throw hit the cage and it was still a PR. There is still some left in the tank and that's what excites me before the season is over."
The NACAC Senior Games will draw a close to the season for Lambert and noted that afterwards, he will take some time off, before he starts competing for the 2016 Olympic Trials.
"I'm looking forward to that," Lambert said. "There has been a lot of change over at SIU lately and that's real interesting and mind blowing at the same time. So, it's been important for me to get my head screwed back on and train of thought straightened out."
Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.