Union County College expanded their Track & Field Team for the 2014 season by including throwing and jumping events to their already successful running events. Union County College is very proud of freshman thrower Samard Walker from Jersey City, NJ to be part of the 2014 team. Samard joined the inaugural year of throwing events for Union County College and has made a tremendous impact.
The start of the 2014 season began strong for Samard at the Wagner Invitational on March 22nd. In the discus event Samard threw 37.16m where he placed 10th among 27 throwers that were representing NJCAA and NCAA schools. He also put himself on the map at the first meet of the season by coming in 1st out of 23 throwers for the men's shot put, throwing 15.49m.
Determination, a positive mental attitude and a remarkable work ethic is what Samard can give homage to his great success so far this season. Early in the season at the 3rd meet hosted by Stockton College, Samard clinched his spot to compete at the NJCAA National Meet. Throwing 16.08m in the shot put, Samard earned 1st at the meet and is currently ranked #1 in the country for shot put. One week later he qualified again for Nationals at the TCNJ Invitational Meet in the discus event. He placed 2nd at the TCNJ Invitational, throwing the discus 44.59m and is also currently ranked 1st in the country for discus.
Success still continued for Samard by receiving an acceptance to throw the shot put in the premier 2014 Penn Relay Carnival in Philadelphia, PA hosted by Penn University. Samard's next challenge will be to compete in the NJCAA Region XIX Champions starting on Friday, May 2nd. To finish out an already amazing season, Samard will be traveling with his team to Mohawk Valley Community College in upstate New York to compete in the NJCAA National Track & Field Championship beginning on Thursday, May 8th.