Athletics Feature
Something to Prove
Renshaw Sets NAIA Weight Throw Record in Winning National Title
By Kenneth DeGraaf — Student Writer
K asey Renshaw ’ s initial motivation to throw a shot put was a milkshake from her eight grade gym teacher . Now , as a senior at Siena Heights University , the motivation is a little bigger : winning national championships
“ I was in gym class in eighth grade and my teacher , who also working with the track team here , said , ‘ Hey , Kasey , if you can throw this shotput in the air this high , I will buy you a milkshake ,’” she said . “ That was the first time I ever touched a shot put , but I got the milkshake . After that they pretty much started recruiting me to Siena .”
While Renshaw was not as highly recruited as current NCAA Division I athletes out of high school , she ’ s proved to be one of the top indoor weight throwers in the country . Among all NCAA and NAIA divisions , Renshaw is one of the best throwers in the nation . Her 70-foot , 10-inch performance at the Indiana University Relays , where she placed first in a meet full of Division I athletes , proves it .
In fact , Renshaw was the only NAIA athlete competing in the event .
“ No one knew who I was ,” she said . “ I was the only NAIA athlete there . I felt like because nobody knew me , I had something to prove . I walked in and sat in the bleachers and kept to myself the entire time , but they made fun of me because I put my shoes on too early . Every athlete has their own rituals and stuff , but it kind of pushed me more to make a name for myself . Yeah , you may not know me , but you ’ re going to know me .”
Renshaw went on to win the national title at the NAIA Indoor Championships , setting a new NAIA record with a toss of 69-6.5 . She was named the Outstanding Performer of the meet as the Saints finished fourth as a team . She also competed at the USA indoor national championships a couple of weeks later in Oregon and finished sixth in the country .
According to SHU women ’ s track and field coach Kirk Richards , it is that strong will and determination that has gotten the small-town Litchfield , Mich ., native to where she is now .
“ She is gentle , always positive and you would never know Kasey can bench 235 pounds more than once and squat 445 pounds ,” he said . “ The hard work and perseverance has paid off big for her . She is another amazing example of the kind of induvial that Siena Heights produces year in and year out .”
Renshaw ’ s path to where she is now has built year-by-year . Her freshman year she placed sixth in the NAIA Indoor National Championships . During her sophomore season , she competed at the championship event once again but fouled out of the ring on her three throws and didn ’ t qualify for the finals .
“ That was a turning point in her career ,” Richards said . “ That meet instilled in Kasey the determination , discipline and maturity an athlete needs to become a national champion . Kasey learned from her failure in 2014 and came back to win the national title in her junior year in 2015 with a throw and PR ( personal record ) of 63-10 ¼ .”
This spring , she is continuing her quest to be the best . During the outdoor season , she is already ranked first in the NAIA in the hammer throw , and is also ranked in the shot put . In fact , Renshaw thought about training for the Olympics . “ I never had any kind of ambition to go to the Olympics or anything ,” she said . “ I really didn ’ t see much out of track , because it ’ s not like basketball or football where you get a contract and get paid . You have to find your own sponsors . It ’ s kind of nerve-wracking , but exciting at the same time .”
However , after a host of injuries , and finishing up an internship for her accounting degree , she said she is focused on career outside of athletics after graduation .
“ I never saw myself going this far to the USA meet ,” she said . “ I always told myself I wasn ’ t going to be the person that trains five or six years after college is done and I was done throwing . But I never saw myself going this far , so now I ’ m just kind of leaving it in God ’ s hands .” And what is her secret to success ? “ My main thing every meet is I don ’ t focus on getting excited or focusing on throwing big ,” she said . “ I just focus between every throw on staying calm .” u
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