Kandace Arnold delivered her best performance in the most important meet of the indoor track season.

The sophomore from Evergreen Park began her weekend at the Ohio Valley Conference Championship on Friday evening with the shot put. She won the event with a throw of 48 feet, 3.5 inches, which ranks third all-time in Eastern history.

She performed even better on Saturday in the weight throw.

Arnold finished second with a throw of 58’6.75″, which set a school record.

Arnold said she did not expect to win heading into the shot put. Some of her opponents were ranked ahead of her based on previous performance during the season.

“I just wanted to do my best and compete,” Arnold said, “The girls ahead of me are such great competitors.”

But that attitude changed after her performance in the shot put. With most of her throws around 44 feet this season, she said she was shocked by her shot put of more than 48 feet on Friday.

“It made me think, ‘Wow!'” Arnold said. “I really can do whatever I put my mind to.”

Her teammates knew of her potential and have tried to encourage and build her confidence since the day she started at Eastern. Junior thrower Nicole Walcott said she expected Arnold to perform well at the conference meet.

“I just try to remind her of how good she is,” Walcott said.

Junior Angela Stoczynski is another Eastern thrower and has spent plenty of time with Arnold. She is happy to have watched her progress the last two years.

“Not only am I impressed with what she did over the weekend but just her as an athlete.” Stoczynski said.

Stoczynski said Arnold’s continued improvement and ability to reach new peaks sets Arnold apart from her competitors. She reached a new peak last weekend, as her weight throw and shot put were both personal records.

The OVC championship meet was a perfect time for her best throws.

It is the most important meet of the season, and when the athletes want to be at their absolute best. Regardless of what the competition did, Arnold wanted to have her best possible performance.

“I’ve never been so focused in a meet,” she said.

Her mental preparation was important in her success.

“The day of the meet she was just in the zone mentally,” Stoczynski said.

With all she accomplished in just this weekend, Arnold is still just a sophomore and has much to look forward to. Walcott says there are bigger things to come from Arnold.

In the immediate future Arnold is focused on this year’s outdoor track season. She wants to qualify for Regionals of the NCAA Championship by meeting the qualifying mark.

While she has that to look forward to, Arnold is not going to forget this record-breaking weekend anytime soon.

“I can’t stop thinking about it,” she said. “It just feels great.”

Micky Deming can be reached at 581-7944 or at jmdeming@eiu.edu.

Sophomore thrower Candace Arnold recently won the shotput event at the OVC indoor championships, as well as set personal and school records for weight throw. (Bryce Peake

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