The Gophers women’s throwing team is made of quiet performers, but their results are making noise entering Saturday’s Big Ten outdoor track and field championships in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Ranked No. 21 in the NCAA, Minnesota has seen a continuous stream of successful athletes, especially under associate head coach Peter Miller and the throwing program.
The surplus of rotating talent over the years fostered a healthy mentorship system between the upper and lower classmen, which helped produce record-holding throwers and future leaders, such as national champion Kaitlyn Long and Big Ten champion Shelby Frank.
“The group culture is the reason why everyone succeeds here,” Miller said. “There’s a leadership group right now that doesn’t allow people to settle. … That then carries the younger kids to get to that level quicker than they would on their own.”
Miller’s next prodigy, Annie Nabwe, is one of four freshmen on the team and has looked up to Frank since her time in the program. However, Nabwe is quickly making herself known across the Big Ten as the next top Gopher to watch.
On Feb. 23, Nabwe launched an NCAA freshman record-breaking weight throw of 76 feet, 7¾ inches to win the Big Ten indoor event. Frank, not too far behind with a throw of 72-5¼, finished third in the competition.
“We set reachable goals and the goal was to go 20 meters [65-7½] this year,” Nabwe said. “Doing that was really surprising, but Peter told me I can do better. So I just kept pushing.”
At the Drake Relays in late April, Frank and Nabwe placed in the hammer throw, with Nabwe finishing first, leaving the program ranked No. 3 nationally in the event.
