Track athletes are known for their sprinting and endurance capabilities, while field athletes remain more mysterious. Luke Vaughn, a business management freshman and neighborhood really-tall-guy, is a thrower on the University of Memphis track and field team. He took the time with the Daily Helmsman to share a little bit about himself.
Daily Helmsman: What brought you to the U of M?
Luke Vaughn: I'm from East Peoria, Ill., but I went to high school in Champaign, Ill. I actually originally had my sights set on Ole Miss because I really liked the throws coach there, but once he was no longer an option, I had to move on. I found out that he was taught by the throws coach at Memphis, so I started talking to him about the program. It definitely worked out for the best, though, and this is where God led me. I'm much happier here than I would have been at Ole Miss.
DH: What do you do as a thrower on the track and field team?
LV: There are five different throws. There's shot put, discus, hammer, weight throw and javelin. I do everything but javelin. Weight throw is the same as hammer, but with a heavier weight, shorter wire and it takes place indoors. I have practice every weekday from 3 to 7 p.m., usually with track meets on the weekends.
DH: What is your most memorable moment as a thrower?
LV: Senior year, indoor season, a week before state, it was a "big-man" event. The prize was two-dozen donuts. The state record was 56 or 57 feet, and I had just thrown 60 feet. I was pretty sure about winning until somebody passed me at the last second. Being a little frustrated, I punched a wall. My hand got bruised pretty badly until two days later my dad made me get it checked out. Turns out I had "boxer's fracture", where I broke my fifth metacarpal into multiple pieces. My doctor said to wait four weeks after surgery and getting my cast off to start throwing again. State was in four weeks, though, so I said heck no! I threw disc two days later and shot put a week and a half later. My nurse gave me a little lecture after seeing me on a news clip a week after taking the pins out, too.
DH: What's your favorite aspect of being a thrower?
LV: Well, it's way better than running. I don't have to watch what I eat or go on diets, just eat what I want and lift weights.
DH: Have you ever received any grief about being 6-foot-8?
LV: I'll get the dumb ones, like, "Hey can you change this lightbulb?" or "How's the weather up there?" Some people ask me how I got so tall. I never know how to answer them. Like, I don't know, genetics? I eat my vegetables?
DH: What do you like most about your height?
LV: It's a blessing for sports. I have a natural advantage in stature. You can teach somebody how to throw, but you can't teach someone how to be taller.
DH: What don't you like about it?
LV: Shopping for pants is difficult. It was really bad when I was younger because I was super tall and super skinny. Sometimes shirts are too short, too. Also, some doors have the little piston thing that I bump my head into. Other than that, I still really feel blessed.
