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.