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Earley Set for the Big Stage Once Again
March 11, 2008
MEADVILLE, Pa. – For Allegheny College senior thrower Liz Earley (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township), high-pressure competition has always been a part of life. This weekend will be no different for the two-time All-American when she travels to Ada, Ohio for the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships.
“I feel very confident and have been practicing well for the past few weeks,” said Earley. “I know that this competition will go to whoever shows up. It is really anyone’s game.”
Earley, who is set to compete in the weight throw, earned All-American honors during last year’s indoor championship with a fifth-place distance of 55-8.25. She picked up her second piece of All-American hardware in the hammer throw at last season’s outdoor championships.
"This time around will be a bit different because I went in last year as the underdog,” noted Earley, who was ranked 14th out of 16 throwers at last year’s championship. She heads into this year’s meet with the fifth best distance in Division III.
“We are going to try and treat this like any other meet. For me, it will be smaller than a usual competition because there are only 13 competitors. I have to look at it as being a small group of throwers who are all at the same high level. The big key will be staying focused and not getting too overwhelmed.”
Even before her time with the Allegheny track & field team, Earley was competing on the big stage. Ironically, she spent nearly 16 years as a competitive dancer and earned nine national championships in baton twirling.
“I have an extensive history with big competition,” noted Earley. "I’ve performed in front of national arenas in England and France as well as at the University of Notre Dame. Those places hold thousands of spectators, so the national championships shouldn’t be that high-pressure for me – but they definitely still are.”
The championships on the campus of Ohio Northern University are set to begin at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, March 14. The women’s weight throw portion of the competition will be the very first event held.