Birchem Thrives Throwing Discus

Article reprinted courtesy of Fargo Forum and reporter Eric Peterson. Picture courtesy of Fargo Forum photographer Dave Samson.


MOORHEAD—The first time Hillary Birchem threw a discus, the experience wasn't pleasant.

"I said I would never do it again," said Birchem, from Lisbon, N.D.

A high school freshman at the time, Birchem recalls throwing the discus around 20 times in that inaugural session. The result was a bunch of divots near the front of the throwing circle.

"I sent every (discus) into the ground ... just dirt-pocketed them," Birchem said with a smile. "I didn't know how to release it yet. I hated it because I couldn't get it figured out right away."

Birchem has refined her technique since. The Concordia senior qualified for the NCAA Division III Outdoor track championships in the women's discus for a fourth consecutive season. Birchem has the fifth-best throw in the event, entering the competition at 157 feet, 5 inches. The championships start Thursday at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y.

"If she can keep being Hillary when she goes to nationals, she should be an All-American," Cobbers track coach Marv Roeske said. "She can compete with anybody at that meet."

Birchem won the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in the discus about a week ago with a throw of 157-2.

In recent weeks, Birchem has routinely been in the 150s with her throws.

"She's become rock solid consistent," Roeske said.

Birchem started competing in discus during her sophomore year in high school, and qualified for the state meet that season and finished fifth. She was the Class B state champion in the discus in both her junior and senior seasons.

"Once I committed to it and started to (discus), it came pretty quickly," said Birchem, who started her high school track career competing in sprints, hurdles and jumps.

She has learned to love the technical side of throwing the discus. The rhythm of the spin and trying to perfect each detail. Birchem gets an adrenaline rush when she uncorks a big throw.

"It's a pretty great feeling," Birchmen said. "It's so easy to feel when you just do it a tad wrong. Then you get that one that's spot on, and you can just feel everything connect just right, and then you get to watch it fly."

While the 5-foot-7 Birchem is determined to become an All-American, she's going to treat the national championships like any other meet.

Hillary said her older brother, Nick Birchem, has been a big influence during her throwing career. Nick is a Concordia graduate, who now teaches in Hawley, Minn. Nick has helped coach Hillary, along with Cobbers throwing coach Dave Reuter, during practices this spring.

"She's worked hard for it," Nick said. "I'd expect her to go compete and I'd expect her to be mentally tough."

All-America status is the only thing missing from Hillary's college resume, Roeske said.

"She just loves throwing the discus," Roeske said. "It makes it really fun to watch her because her quickness and her technique and her snap. ... She's small, but she's super athletic."