Redshirt senior Grayson Fleming has made the most of his opportunity to throw for the University of Arizona.  In his final season, he's off to a hot start.
 


"Arizona has been a magnificent place to train and live through college," said Fleming. "The opportunity to come here from Wyoming is one I'm extremely grateful for. Being outside throwing in 70-degree weather and sun most days remains an exponential improvement to the snowy, windy, and occasional sub-zero conditions of Wyoming that I came from. It really helped me grow from a small, relatively unknown high school recruit to a competitive three-event athlete. Getting an engineering degree from a well-respected university on top of all that just adds another layer, what more could I have asked for?"
 
In his first hammer throw contest competing unattached in the 2015 Willie Williams Classic, Fleming did not post a mark. In the 2019 Willie Williams Classic last week, he posted the No. 4 mark in the NCAA with a toss of 64.71m (212-4).
 
"It only motivates me to try to throw farther to maintain or increase the mark, as many talented athletes will be throwing this weekend with the intent of moving up in the rankings," said Fleming. "Apart from that, it really doesn't do much to help, apart from instilling the belief that I can compete at the national level with success."
 
Fleming closed out the 2018 campaign with his second bid to the NCAA West Preliminary Round and ended the 2019 indoor season scoring a pair of points at the MPSF Championships. He credits minor tweaks and having a better grip on his mental approach to throwing.
 
"The training is generally the same as I have done previous years with minor tweaks based on last years results," said Fleming. "I think something I overlooked previously was the importance of the psychological side of the sport and how the right mindset can mean the difference between a great meet or a lot of frustration. Reading a few books on the mental side of training this year definitely helped with my state of mind going into the circle."
 
The men's squad ranks No. 15 in the latest USTFCCCA outdoor rankings, and with a PR of 65.14m (213-8), Fleming credits the man in charge for the team's success.
 
"I think our head coach Fred Harvey is a large part of why we are so successful," said Fleming. "He built a staff that is capable of improving all of our athletic and academic ventures. While I may be graduating this year and moving on from the NCAA, the majority of the team is young and coming back for several years to come. We have a lot of young talent that has the desire and ability to work hard and seek victory at major championship meets. That's what excites me about Arizona track and field this season, as well as for the next few seasons to come."
 
While crediting the leadership at the top, Fleming also sees the value of everyone involved with the track and field program.
 
"The staff who do everything behind the scenes to get every one of us in a position to be the best version of ourselves, not only at the track but in life," he said. "I have a great amount of respect for our trainers, coaches, and other support staff. Our athletic trainer, Ben Crawford, is pretty much working all the time. Weekends, weekdays, early mornings, late nights and he still is willing to go the extra mile to get issues resolved. Our coaching staff, all of who are instrumental in creating the atmosphere in which we find success. Our strength and conditioning coaches, who may not always travel with us to the meets, but get us physically prepared for competition. There are so many people in the department who are willing and able to go far beyond the job description and bring the best out of all of us."
 
On May 11th & 12th, Fleming and the Cats will host the Pac-12 Championships at Roy P. Drachman Stadium. He considers it the perfect way to spend his graduation weekend.
 
"My parents and family are overjoyed with the fact they can see me walk the stage at graduation and watch me compete for a Pac-12 title in the same weekend," said Fleming. "It's an added benefit throwing in rings that I know and am comfortable with. I've had a lot of good times at Roy P. Drachman Stadium, and I am sad that this chapter of my life is coming to a close, but I think it will be a great way to say farewell to the end of my NCAA eligibility."