Former Bruin Valeyta Altheucecil

Published: Monday, July 22, 1996

Monday, July 22, 1996

Dumble throws short of trip to Atlanta

Althouse makes Olympic team, faces tough competitionBy Melissa Anderson

Summer Bruin Staff

The weather may be hot in Atlanta this week at the Centennial Olympic Games, but for shot putter Dawn Dumble, the heat was really turned up last Tuesday at Drake Stadium when she tried one final time to hit the Olympic qualifying mark of 59 feet, 3/4 inches.

Throwing for the fourth time in six days, the former Bruin was unable to meet the Olympic standard and was replaced by friend and teammate Valeyta Althouse. Althouse also threw Tuesday along with discus throwers Sarah Andrews and Donna Mayhew.

Tuesday's meet was the second in as many days held at Drake for the sole purpose of giving Dumble a chance to qualify. But, by the time it was over, Dumble whose personal best is nearly a foot shy of the qualifying mark was showing clear signs of exhaustion.

"(Monday) took too much out of her, and you've got to give it one last chance. You can't give up that opportunity," UCLA throwing coach Art Venegas said. "She fought valiantly (Monday), came so close, and today I think her body just gave out on her."

After coming up just inches short on Monday, both coach and thrower felt it necessary to give it one last shot, so to speak. But Dumble could throw no further than 55-7 1/4 on Tuesday, and though she was disappointed that she was not going to Atlanta, she was also able to breathe a sigh of relief.

"I've learned a lot about myself while competing and I've gained a lot of confidence during this week," Dumble said. "I am glad that it's over because it's hard to get up for all of these meets, so in that respect I am glad that it's over.

"I just wish that it was over and I was going to the Olympics."

Just because she will not be in Atlanta does not mean that Dumble has given up on her Olympic dream. At 24, she is still young for shot putters, who typically peak in their late 20s.

"I want to throw for a long time, for as long as my body holds up," Dumble said. "I'll be 28 for the next Olympics in Sydney, Australia and I do hope to be there, throwing in both the shot and the discus."

For Althouse who finished fourth at the Olympic Trials behind Dumble realizing the dream of a lifetime was made difficult because it came at the expense of a teammate.

"If it was somebody else, it would be a totally different situation and I would probably be ecstatic," Althouse said after learning that she would make the trip to Atlanta. "But it's kind of like that feeling where I'm happy to go, but I'm really sad for her because she works harder than just about anybody on the team."

After being upset by Teri Steer last spring at the NCAA's, Althouse has been no stranger to hard work herself. A chance to go to Atlanta is what kept her training all summer.

"Everybody needs that knockdown in order to build back up again," Althouse said. "It's hard winning all the time and then you think that you have it and then somebody comes along and all of a sudden you don't, that makes you realize and take a step back as to what you have to do."

What Althouse has to do now is go up against the world's best. Although she threw 59-3 1/4 Tuesday, she will need to hit at least 60 feet just to qualify for the finals, much less compete for an Olympic medal.

"Valeyta proved she is a worthy member of the Olympic team," Venegas said. "She has thrown very, very well the last two days. Let's hope she gets over 60 feet at the Olympics and makes the final 12, which would be a great accomplishment for a just-graduated senior from UCLA."

The track and field events begin Friday in Atlanta.

Daily Bruin File Photo

Former Bruin Valeyta Althouse will be throwing in the Olympics as a result of Dawn Dumble's failure to meet the qualifying mark.