All-American Ethan Ehlers is completing his senior year as apart of the Augustana Track and Field team. Along with winning CCIW athlete of the Week for the second time this year, Ehlers has broken the Augustana shot put record with a throw of 55′ 10″.
The record setting performance came at the Paul V. Olsen Track and field complex during the Viking Olympics held on March 29. Ehlers won the Shot put event with his record setting throw and took second place in the discuss throw along the way.
Ehlers took down the previous record of 54′ 8 1/4″ held for 19 years by David Dempsey, and has his eyes on extending that record before his time at Augustana comes to an end.
“The season is still young, so it is my goal to set a record that will never be broken. In all honesty however, Augustana has the greatest Track and Field program in the country and I have the upmost confidence that it will fall one day, and when that happens I will congratulate that individual just as the previous record holder congratulated me,” Ehlers said.
Coach David Gonzalez, who coaches the throwers, has a similar idea when it comes to the chances of Ehlers record standing for awhile.
“I’d like to say it could stand for 10 years, but the coach in me would like to hope that the next crop of throwers have a shot at it and will have the chance to challenge the record,” Gonzalez said.
Breaking records is something Ehlers is no stranger to, he previously broke the indoor record for shot put earlier this year, but doesn’t credit raw strength and power for his record-setting performances. He credits his form, that has been refined over his four years and has allowed him to get to where he is today.
“I’m not strong or fast enough for raw talent to throw the shot far, so I have definitely relied on good, consistent technique to get me there, as well as trying to make myself faster and stronger,” Ehlers said.
Through his time at Augustana, Ehlers has not only became an all American and broken records, but the friendships and skills he has learned will take him to where he wants to be in life according to Ehlers.