Posted on Fri, May. 02, 2008

Cypress Bay junior Austin Gamble would soon rather forget the 2007 Class 4A state track-and-field meet. Gamble said he was overcome by jitters from his first state meet and finished tied for last in the discus after scratching on his first three throws. Gamble swept both titles at the Region 3-4A championships April 24. He won the shot put with a personal-best toss of 51 feet, 8.50 inches, and the discus with a throw of 160-6, well off the personal-best 165-10 he set at the BCAA finals.

On Tuesday, Gamble discussed how a new laid-back approach has put him in position to win the shot put and discus titles at the 4A state meet in Winter Park on Saturday.

Q. How did things unravel so quickly for you at the state meet last year?

A. I was nervous. I had sweaty palms and then had a bad spin in the circle. I scratched on all three throws. I just went and watched everybody else after that.

Q. What has that experience taught you?

A. I learned the mind-set really helps you a lot. Not getting down if you have a bad throw. Just to let it go and have fun. If I try to be too serious with it, that is when I mess up.

Q. Among all classes, you own the No. 8 mark in the discus (165-10) and No. 15 mark in the shot put (51-8.50), according to flrunners.com. What are your chances of winning both events Saturday?

A. I want to really win the discus. In shot put, I just want to have a PR.

Q. As a middle linebacker for the Lightning, is it more fun throwing running backs around or tossing the shot and discus?

A. Running backs. Football is still my favorite sport.

Q. How did you get started in the throws?

A. My friend, Daniel Monty, who also plays football, asked me to come out my sophomore year. We both like to do weightlifting.

Q. Explain how, at 6-0, 225 pounds, with a bench-press of 405 pounds, some might consider you undersized compared with other throwers. What would consider your biggest strengths?

A. Most of the guys are bigger. It is a big advantage when you are taller, you have longer arms. Mostly my strength and technique have helped me move on through the season.

Q. To get the adrenaline pumping, throwers often let out loud screams and grunts in competition. Does that really give them an edge?

A. You need a lot of explosiveness, so you need to get crazy before you throw it. Some people think the screaming and grunting makes them throw further. I don't really scream as much as the other kids. I kind of grunt more.

Q. There is a common misconception that it takes only raw strength to throw the discus and shot put far. Explain why this is not the case.

A. It helps to be strong, but that is not everything. You might be able to throw it far but not to your potential. You need a lot of technique. It takes a lot of practice and working on it.