April 27, 2010
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Sprinters practice sprinting, throwers work on their throws and distance runners work on their splits. If you are Vanderbilt senior Mallory Hitt, you must find time to work on all three areas, and then find more time to work on four additional events. As a multi-eventer, finding a balance between the seven events that make up the heptathlon is a challenge Hitt is faced with each week between competitions. Comprised of the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200 meters, long jump, javelin and 800 meters, the heptathlon is an ultimate test of athletic ability and endurance. In addition to balancing her time among events on the track, the Baton Rouge, La., native has successfully balanced her time in the classroom, where she was named to the 2009 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll and will graduate in May with a degree in medicine, health and society.
On becoming a multi-eventer
Before I got to Vanderbilt I was a sprinter and high jumper and had never done multi-events. The coaches saw that I had the potential to be one. A couple of other coaches I had talked to during the recruiting process had an interest in me doing that. I was probably converted to a multi-eventer because I was a pretty decent sprinter, but not an SEC-level sprinter and then a good high jumper.
On if she was hesitant at first to start competing in the heptathlon
I was a little bit nervous, but I was also excited. I had done the same events for eight years before college, so doing something new was really fun.
On her favorite event to compete in
High jump. It is the only event I compete in as an open event, as well. It is harder to get better in the event because of how much time I must dedicate to each event. That definitely was a huge setback freshman year. I was used to practicing high jump at least two times a week and now I’ll high jump maybe once a week.
On how she divides up her time training for all seven events
We usually try to do one or two events a day to cover all of them within a week. The harder workouts are usually at the beginning of the week, especially when we are in season.
On the goals for her final season
I definitely want to score at the SEC Championships. If I could score in the high jump and heptathlon, it would be a good way to finish my career.
On her next step after graduation
I want to go to med school. I’ll go wherever it takes me, but I’ll probably end up back in Louisiana just because of how med schools tend to work. I love south Louisiana.
