Heather Lantis is a junior thrower on the track team, a history major, and the vice president of Student Federation.
When did you start focusing on track?
My junior year in high school. I got hurt playing basketball and needed to rehab to get back and all that hard work instilled my love for track. I was frustrated that I couldn’t throw with my right hand so I threw with my left instead and made it work.
What is your personal record for throwing?
I achieved my PR for shot put of 12.5 meters my sophomore year at the conference tune-up meet at Grand Valley State University. For discus my best throw was roughly 128 feet during the outdoor season my sophomore year at a meet in Hillsdale.
What is the best part about track meets?
I think the best part about track meets is watching those races that are neck-and-neck until the finish. This past season there were a lot of close races with our 4×4 team. When you’re throwing and it comes down to the last throw, and the person in second place beats the person in first; I like watching the upsets. They’re exciting. It’s worth watching all of the boring moments because of all of those intense moments of competition and victory.
What is your best moment as a Charger?
I think my best moment as a Charger is witnessing the Charger athletic community as a whole compete with a high level of intensity and character. Charger athletes bring so much more to competition than their abilities because they bring such a high level of integrity. And I think that competing to our utmost in a way that is glorifying to the Lord is the most important part of any athletic competition.
What is the most difficult part about being a thrower?
The most difficult part is the aspect that you have such a small period of time to compete. In other sports there are four quarters or nine innings where if you make a mistake you can make it up later on in the game, but in track, and more specifically in throws, you have three chances to throw far. So with that there is more pressure in those short moments.
Do you have any superstitions/rituals the day of a meet?
I always have to make sure that my cross necklace is aligned correctly so that the clasp is not in front every time before I throw. Other than that I would say that I am not a very superstitious person.
What is something about coach Forino that not everybody knows?
The amount of Diet Coke and Mountain Dew that Coach Forino intakes on a daily basis never ceases to amaze me.
How has having the Biermann Center helped the track team?
Well logistically, there is a lot more room for us to practice, which is helpful. It also is a huge asset when it comes to recruiting, because people see those facilities and respect the program because of it.
What do you like to do outside of athletics?
I enjoy being a part of Athlete InnerVarsity as the women’s track team bible study leader. I am also vice president of the Hillsdale Student Federation. I am also a part of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and I am really trying to improve my tennis skills so one day I take on the Delp sisters.
-Shane Armstrong
