Our very own athletic trainer and Director of Marketing, Joe Leaman, MS, ATC, was featured in a Parkersburg News & Sentinel article on his daughter’s track training and success, read on below!
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Before she enters the college ranks, Parkersburg senior Jacqualin Leaman has unfinished business at the Class AAA high school state track meet.
Leaman, who recently signed to join the women’s track and field program at West Virginia Wesleyan College, will join the rest of the throwers in Charleston as a state qualifier in both the shot put and discus. Last year, she opened some eyes by competing at the state meet in the shot put.
“Last year when I went to state for the shot put, that piqued a lot of interest in coaches here in the area,” Leaman said. “Now I am able to go in both.”
“I have worked really hard — I am really excited to compete in the two events.”
Leaman first attempted the throws as a middle school student. She admits that success didn’t happen overnight. Through her fair share of sweat and determination, she discovered a love for the throws. Her father, Joe Leaman, who manages Mountain River Physical Therapy, assisted with his daughter’s training.
“One of the trainers at Mountain River told me I was super strong and I should try the throws — then I did,” Leaman said. “I struggled when I first started, but I really fell in love with the sport. I worked as hard as I could to be good at it.”
Leaman is one of several from her family tree who will attend West Virginia Wesleyan.
Her older sister, Lauren, graduated from the college last spring after completing her career as a heptathlete.
Their father and grandfather (John Campbell) also attended classes at West Virginia Wesleyan.
Even with the connection of generations at one school, Leaman stated she was not influenced in any one direction. That the decision was hers to make.
“I toured a lot of schools and talked to multiple coaches,” Leaman said. “I got to learn about team environment. I talked to girls when we went to other meets, just to try and see what my options were. As I was getting ready to go into the touring process I talked to other throwers and they gave me an understanding about team environment.
“In the end, it just felt the most comfortable when I toured West Virginia Wesleyan.”
Leaman, who played four years on the PHS girls soccer team, carries a 3.9 grade-point average. At WV Wesleyan, she plans to major in accounting and minor in business administration and marketing.
“I am very excited, but also very nervous,” Leaman said. “I am eager and ready to put in the work at the collegiate level, but really nervous about the new competition.”
If Thursday’s high school regional track meet is any indication, Leaman could be chasing down a state medal. She placed second in the shot put after posting a personal best 32-4 1/2 — which surpassed her previous career mark of 31-8. In the discus, she managed to pull through with a third-place effort of 89-9.
“I want to place at state,” Leaman said. “I would really love to get some points this year. Hopefully, I can get a medal this year.
“I need to stay calm. I try to overthink things and make everything too mechanical. I know how to do it — I just need to do it.”
Read full article here: https://www.newsandsentinel.com/sports/local-sports/2022/05/parkersburgs-jacqualin-leaman-to-throw-at-w-va-wesleyan/
