Three turns got Burnaby’s Shiloh Corrales Nelson to where she wanted.
Now, she’s ready to let her hammer throw do the talking.
The St. Thomas More Collegiate grad has turned a talent in track and field into a college scholarship, locking up a commitment with the University of California-Riverside for 2019/20 as a thrower.
Like her older sister, Zion, who is entering her senior year at the University of California-Berkeley, Shiloh has chosen the NCAA’s sunny California course in which to compete and study. Being in the same time zone as her family, and in the same state as her sis were part of the reasons she chose Riverside, located midway between Los Angeles and Palm Springs.
“It was my very first official visit, so it was kind of like, not overwhelming, but really new to me,” recalls Shiloh of her October trip. “When I went there, as soon as we landed I met the (throws coach Candace Fuller). I’d already called her and researched the school, and knew a bit about the school going in.
“I had a list of questions I wanted to ask. She answered them, took me around the school, I saw a practice and she explained what the training would be like.”
Although she also had a list of other schools seeking her commitment, Shiloh’s heart was quickly rooted in Riverside.
It didn’t hurt that she’s gone to numerous meets to cheer on her sister, who is a strong sprinter and earned an Honourable Mention All-American after placing 18th at the NCAA championships in the 200m. California seemed like a place Shiloh could see herself at. But getting there has been a strenuous journey of training, decision-making and records written in pencil.
With some guidance and help from her mother, Editha, the younger Corrales Nelson daughter knew the process. The blueprint they followed, after all, had been successful once before.
“My older sister was the first one in the family to get a scholarship (to Berkeley), as my mom went with her through the whole process of like her doing the SAT, getting a tutor, going on official visits. Once I saw my sister do that, I was like, ‘Maybe track isn’t just a sport I do for fun. Maybe it could actually lead to something.
“I started working extra hard, going to more practices and doing lifts in the weight room,” she said. “I started getting really good at it and started loving it more and more. I tried investing my time at track.”
Throwing the shotput first as a Grade 5 while also following Zion in the sprint events, the Burnaby Striders’ athletie didn’t add discus and hammer throw until just over a year ago. Her personal best with the shot put, 12.60-metres, was set last year, and put her third in Canada among under-18 throwers.
In the discus, Shiloh hit 36.83m this past spring.
“I started seriously throwing hammer at the end of Grade 11. I just fell in love with it,” she recalls. “I love how effortless it looks, how you’re trying so hard during a throw, there’s just the finesse of it all. It looks really cool.
“I remember going to my sister’s track meets and seeing the hammer throw and I was like, it doesn’t look like a lot that they’re doing but there’s so much technique and it’s so intricate. ... It’s like dancing, there so many steps to it. If you get one wrong, the whole throw is off. I really like the challenging part of it.”
For the most part, each of her hammer throw events has seen her release on the second spin, earning her such impressive marks as a silver at the B.C. High School provincials two months ago with a throw of 47.95 metres.
Her personal best came a few weeks earlier in Richmond on a throw of 50.35m, where she decided to go the extra spin – as three spins before releasing the grip is the collegiate standard. On the first try she knocked down a new PB.
“I wanted to push myself, ‘Let’s just do three. It’s not that big of a meet and let’s see how it goes.’ My very first throw with three turns was where I got the 50.35m and I was so happy about it. That was such a big milestone, because I was stuck in the high 40s for so long.”
That is the kind of progress Fuller, the UC-Riverside assistant coach and throws specialist, envisioned when she assessed the recruit’s skillset.
“I truly believe, based on (Corrales Nelson’s) build and how she moves and her athleticism, the hammer is going to be a pretty significant event for her, if not her primary (event),” Fuller told the NOW. “It’s going to be one of her best opportunities at the Div. 1 level. Sure enough, her marks have indicated that through the rest of her senior year she’s had some incredible success with the hammer.”
Fuller noted the Burnaby athlete has already posted competitive conference-level distances.
Although basketball was her favourite sport growing up, it became apparent a few years ago that, like her sister, track and field was where her future was set. Knowing the commitment involved, both in the throwing cage and the weight room, something had to give.
“Basketball was the first sport I ever played, so having to let go and not focus on it like I did before was a big adjustment,” she says. “It was super sad to say goodbye to that part of my life, but you just move on. There are better things, better opportunities in other sports.”
Even though the throwing and hoops are very dissimilar, Fuller says that Shiloh had been a very committed player for hardwood was an appealing sign, too.
“She’s heavy into basketball, which bodes well for throwers in my opinion because she’s an athlete. Doing multiple sports is a good indication of her athleticism, so we look that,” Fuller notes. “Obviously with a year of training she’s going to be in a really good position to do some things at our conference level coming in. That’s what we’re most excited about with her.”
Having carved her own path and chosen her own school, Shiloh is eager for that first test wearing the UC-Riverside colours.
“I’m so use to going to Zion’s meets (at Berkeley) and watching her run. So being in that atmosphere and as a competitor will be so surreal. Especially repping my school team, and having the confidence in my ability after training for a couple of months will be so insane. I’m so excited for that feeling,” she adds.
