Whiting will be a strong favorite for the NCAA shot put title (Kirby Lee)

1. At the Iowa State Invitational, you threw a new school-record and national-leading mark of 68-01 in the shot put. How did you feel heading into your series and did you come away with what you expected to throw?

My series started off a little slow (18.90m) opener, but quickly got better as I got more comfortable with the ring and began to warm up. My last four throws of the competition were fairly consistent, all above 66 feet except for a foul on one of them. I knew that I had a 68 foot throw in me any day, so it was not too surprising to throw what I did.

2. Coming out of high school, you were perhaps the best throwing recruit heading into college while also named the 2005 Gatorade National Male Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Considering you also red-shirted your freshman year at Arizona State, how much did that help you in the transition from your success in high school to the college ranks?

I remember during my red-shirt year going to meets and being asked why I red-shirted. At the time the only thing I could say is that the coaches mostly made the decision, but now looking back it really was the best thing for me. That extra year of training helped me in the transition from the 12# to the 16#, and also took a lot of pressure off of me to perform right out of high school. The red-shirt allowed me to be a lot more competitive last year in the NCAA than I would have been my true freshmen year, and it may allow me to go for some pretty lofty records later on in college.

3. With your ticket punched to compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships, what will your basic training consist of with just a few weeks left in the season?

I do have on more meet in Seattle before the Championships, but we will be training through it. Leading up to NCAA indoor we will be tapering almost to nothing in the weight room and really concentrating on getting the timing down for the shot.

4. What's been some of your memorable performances during your athletic career?

Throwing in high school was a lot of fun, by the time I got to my senior year I was mostly chasing numbers, especially the 70 foot barrier, it was pretty exciting when I finally threw 70 in competition. The Gatorade National Athlete of the year was also pretty special to me, especially getting to attend the ESPY awards and walk on the red carpet. In college I think my favorite moment so far was my red-shirt year when I placed 8th with a pr at the US indoor championships, it was fun to compete against Hoffa, Nelson, Godina, and Cantwell for the first time.

5. As the top thrower in the nation right now, what motivates you to do even better?

The great thing about throwing is that there are always numbers to chase, I still do not have ASU's overall shot put record (20.78m), also I know that Russ still has a bigger PR than I do and I know that he has a lot of potential to throw far at any time. Right now I am just focused on indoor championships, I think Russ and I are going to put on a good show, it will be a lot of fun.

6. With the great weather in Tempe, it must be a luxury to train outdoors in your events year-round. With your focus on the discus for the outdoor season as well, how often have you been training for that event during the current indoor season?

Training has been great with the discus in Arizona compared to back in PA. Ever since the middle of October we have been able to train the discus two times a week very consistently.

7. Now that you're well into your third year on campus at Arizona State, what does it take for you to show others as one of the leaders on the team?

Track and Field being a sport focused mostly on individual effort, it is sometimes hard to get the team to come together. Last year, for example our team had a hard time at PAC 10 championships coming together, we barely lost, this year will be different. Throughout fall training and into the beginning of indoor season all I have tried to do is lead by example. Last year we only had three athletes qualify for the Indoor National Championships, already this year our team is three times the size. Matt Turner and I had to sit on the sidelines both indoor and outdoor and watch the women's team receive their national championship trophy, I think that really motivated us to be good leaders this year.

8. The shot put has been getting more attention from the national media, especially with the emergence of the great U.S. throwers. The Adam Nelson's of the world look at themselves as great ambassadors to the sport in order to try and get more attention. As a growing elite in the shot put, how will you try to garner or take the torch from them and help lead the way?

I think it is great the way they are showing more and more throwing on national television, not many people know about it, track and field really needs as much positive media exposure as it can get. I have a while until I can take a torch from anyone, I still have two years competing in college after this season. I am honored that I am even considered the next one in line. I will try to do my best to continue the success that they have started.

9. What are some of the more explosive exercises that you find help you the best that transition into the ring?

Olympic lifting is a huge part of our sport, clean, jerk, and snatch always transfer pretty well to the ring. Our team also does a lot of sprinting, box, and horizontal jumps.

10. When it's time to head home and step away from the ring, how do you like to spend your free time and relax?

Right now school is taking up a lot of my time, I am a civil engineering student and currently looking at adding a business major into the mix. I love to cook thanks to my mom, I am always calling home and asking how to make things. I am looking into buying a telescope, I like reading, mostly non-fiction stuff, I have a weekend off this weekend and am going to go hiking in the Superstition Mountains just east of Phoenix. I don't usually get too much time off, when I do I usually just relax.