Cornelius looking to lead throwers to victory on home track

18.88m, that was senior Cameron Cornelius’ first mark of the outdoor season. Almost two months later it is still the top shot put distance in the American Athletic Conference. Now, after missing all of last season due to injury, Cornelius is on the doorstep of qualifying for the NCAA Championships.

But before that, Cornelius will have to get through the competition at the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships. This meet has been a spot of frustration for Cornelius in his first two seasons as he has yet to win an outdoor shot put title. Now after winning his third indoor title in as many seasons, Cornelius is looking to finally complete the double.

“My freshman year and my sophomore year I thought I had it in the bag,” Cornelius said. “I had pretty big throws out there. I thought no one could catch me, I thought I was fine. But in the last rounds they did catch me. So it’s mainly thinking that I could have a two foot PR but it’s still not safe no matter what. So I have to continuously pump out big throws and never let up.”

Cornelius has yet to match his PR from March, but it has kept him in the competition all season. His mark of 18.88m is currently No. 20 in the NCAA West and No. 11 in the NCAA West. His spot at the West Regional is all but secured, now his focus is on solidifying his spot on the national charts.

The competition at conference is the perfect opportunity for Cornelius. Including Cornelius, seven of the throwers have the ability to throw over 18 meters. No one is going to win the event with one throw and everyone is going to compete. Associate head coach Will Blackburn sees the shot put as the best event at conference from a spectator’s standpoint.

“We told the kids this conference meet’s going to be a tough meet,” Blackburn said. “It’s at home, people are going to come after us. If they think it’s a walk in the park, no way, it’s going to be a battle.”

Pushing Cornelius every day at practice is senior Alex Garza. Garza, a transfer from Coffeyville Community College, has become a key tool for the throwers. With 2016 indoor conference shot put champion Felipe Valencia red-shirting, Garza stepped up and became a partner for Corneliius to test each other’s limits.

But Garza has championship aspirations of his own. He is coming off a PR 18.03m at the Penn Relays. Not only did the throw win the event, but it also shot Garza to No. 32 in the NCAA West, No. 3 in conference.

“It was amazing,” Garza said. “It felt like I didn’t even throw the shot, it felt effortless. I didn’t even know it was going to be a PR. I would love to get that conference title but it’s anybody’s game.”

Regardless of who comes out a champion Sunday night, both athletes will have improved their mark on the national stage and put on a show on Tom Tellez Field.

“At the end of the day they need to suit up and be ready to go to war,” Blackburn said. “You can’t go in and assume that you’re going to win because when that happens you will lose. They have the manpower to do it but other teams are strong in the conference so they have to bring it.”