Segond owned the top throw among American-born
freshman in 2002 (prettysporty.com) |
1. In the discus, you were the Big East and IC4A champion along with taking 12th at the NCAA Division I meet. You also owned the top throw among American-born freshmen last season in the discus. Were you surprised by your early success and accomplishments?
Well, I can certainly say that my first year was certainly nothing short of outstanding from my stand point. Coming into this year, I said to myself that I was just going to play it by year and just do my best, whatever else happened from there would just be a by-product of my hard work. If you would have told me that my freshman year I would win the Big East Title indoors in the shot, outdoors in the Disc, and win IC4A's in the Disc along with going to nationals, I would have said "you got to be S*%TEN me!" So I would say in a way that I did surprise myself. I think the real surprise came indoors when I won the Big East shot title. From there on out, it just gave me that extra confidence to help me accomplish what I did the rest of the season.
2. How much has your throwing coach Tony Naclerio helped you along the way during your first year at Rutgers?
I think Coach Naclerio was a real asset to my success as a thrower and especially during my freshman year. First off I have to say that he is just a great guy, we get along real well, we both have that intense frame of mind during practice, and we gelled together real well. It was a great year, he not only help me become a better thrower technically but mentally as well, in the few downfalls in my season that I did have, (which I won't mention, lol) he really helped me get through them and build upon them. He took skills that I didn't know that I even had, and helped refine them and bring them out more in my throwing. He was instrumental in my success my first year. We had a great year and the way we work together it can only get better in the upcoming years.
3. What kind of off-season training are you involved in and did you compete much during the summer?
As for the off season, once I was done from July till October I just lifted. I actually took off from throwing, I needed that time off. I believe that if you don't give yourself that time off that I myself would get burned out, that way when I came into next year, it will be with a new vigor and intense passion for the sport again. All I did was lift heavy, plyometrics, and jog with my girlfriend when she would run for soccer. It was a good time, I got to reflect on my season, look ahead to next year and prepare for what is coming.
4. Although he will not be back this season due to graduation, how much did senior Marc Wallace help you and the rest of the team out with his leadership?
Marc Wallace I think was the best person that you could have asked for to start out your college career in throwing. He was a great person, always cheering me on, giving me encouragement along with the rest of the team. He was a real nice guy that I am lucky to have gotten to know, it was a real pleasure. In the beginning he helped me with my first few meets, of course I was nervous and threw well, be he helped to give me that confidence to be myself. Throwing with him and the rest of the throwers on the squad helped me feel right at home my first year. One thing that Marc said that I found humorous was that he called me a machine--he said, "well you started throwing the shot shorter than me at 51 ft. in the beginning of the year, and then you just wouldn't stop increasing--only a machine could do that!" Marc helped a lot and though the year we became good friends--thanks Marc!
5. What was your favorite venue or ring to compete in last season?
I would have to say that my favorite ring to throwing would have to be at the Penn Relays. Just the atmosphere there makes it a special place to throw. But I would also say that I have always thrown well there too. I am not superstitious, but I won the high school division my senior year and then I threw my PR in the discus my freshman year there in college. If things go the same way again this year at Penn, watch out. Doing well there only gives you more confidence every time you go there, and that is half the battle.
6. Do you think the throwers get enough respect from the track & field media across the U.S.?
Do you even have to ask that question? Hell no. I mean when you watch the TV during the Olympics all you can watch in Track and Field is the running events. You would be lucky to even see the highlight clip if one of our Americans won an event. The US media needs to get with the program--and fast. I mean the shot throwers right now because so much excitement that the sprints have to be stopped sometime b/c the start gun cannot be heard. That's action if you ask me. Between Andy Bloom, Adam Nelson, and John Godina that's where it is at for right now. It's just so frustrating to see the media neglect (for lack of a better word) the throwers. Hopefully one day they will wake up!
7. What kind of individual goals do you have in mind for the 2003 track & field season
For this upcoming year I have set a few goals. I have set a few numbers but I think the real thing you have to look at is just doing the work and preparations, and then the numbers will come. Right now my goals look like this: over 200 in the discus and over 63 in the shot. When I set my goals for my freshman year I certainly surpassed them, but I think this year it will take twice as much work to get half the improvement that I did last year. So I think with the right frame of mind and proper training anything is possible.
8. Did you compete in any other sports in high school at East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania?
When I was at East Stroudsburg I played football along with Track and Field. In football I was the place kicker surprisingly and I was and Offensive Guard or Tackle. Depending on what team we face depended what position I played. I had a good time in football and really had to think hard about not doing both in college, but in the end I had the real passion of throwing. If I would have played football inevitably it would have taken away form my training time for throwing, thus making me not as good as I am today. All in all I am very happy with my decision and would not change it for the world.
9. Who is the one athlete or role model that you look up to?
This is an easy answer hands down. I would say without a doubt that it would have to be my good friend John Powell. Through the years when I first went to John's throwing camp he became a big help to me. Although John has his ways about doing things, he has helped me with the big ideas and I would certainly credit my success to him as well. Over the years I now go to visit him at his home in Las Vegas to throw with him and to learn about the finer things about throwing. It has been a real pleasure working with him and I cannot wait to see what me and him have for the future. I have always tried to emulate John's technique, but I cannot wait to the point in time when I can start to play with my own technique. John has been the BIG thrower in my eyes.
10. Will we see your name in Athens 2004 for the United States?
This one is a tough one. I don't want to make any promises now, and I don't want to jump the gun. Certainly my ultimate goal is to go to the Olympics, it would be great to go in 2004, but I can not really say now. I will have a better idea after the end of this outdoor season. So who knows, but if you really want to know, you would be a fool not to think that I wouldn't love to be there.
-----------------------------------------------------------------I would just like to ultimately credit all of my success to my Dad. I know I said that my throwing role model is John Powell which he is, but the real man who got me to where I am today is my Dad. He was the one who started me throwing at and early age, and started my love for lifting. He was the greatest coach I could have ever had in high school, as him and I had the best 4 years that were better than any fairytale story book that you could imagine. He was the one to bring me to the Discus and Shot-put camps and take the time to come to every meet that I have had. I think that in all of my meets, my Dad has only missed one or two, talk about dedication. I don't think there is any other Dad in the world that has done what my Dad has done for me. I will forever be indebted to him. The only way I can repay him is though my hard work and success that he has instilled in me. In the end I credit all my success to my Dad who has made me into the person that I am today. Thanks Dad, I love you.