Nate Hunter continued his dominance with the shot put in Texas Friday as he won the 82nd annual Texas Relays’ ‘A’ section with a throw of 61-feet 6.75-inches, a personal best. He was named the Colonial Athletic Association Field Co-Athlete of the Week. This accomplishment has earned Hunter the Huntington News Player of the Week honors.
Hunter earned All-American status last month. He did so by finishing seventh at the NCAA Championships in College Station Texas. He set his old personal best of 61-feet, 4.75 inches then. The top eight finishers received All-American status.
‘ The Gloucester native has been throwing shot put for seven years. He said he initially joined track to stay in shape for football and ran the 440-meter. He was told about the shot put his sophomore year by a football teammate.
‘ The junior mechanical engineering major is on scholarship at Northeastern. He said Northeastern was his first choice for both academics and athletics and he wanted to work with assistant coach Joe Donahue to improve his throw.
‘Joe Donahue is the throwing coach and I had heard of him from one of my old teammates from Gloucester,’ Hunter said. ‘He said if you want to be really good throwing he is the guy to go to. He was one of the main reasons, athletically, why I picked Northeastern, athletically. Obviously the co-op program is what it is really all about.’
‘ Hunter is about to go on his third co-op this summer. He previously worked for Natgun, a company that deals with concrete water tanks.
After his throwing career is done, he said he hopes to receive a job in a mechanical engineering position, which can range from robotics to automotives.
‘ He said he hopes to continue throwing after college. He has already competed for an Olympic spot, finishing ninth’-the top three make the team.
‘ ‘I want to throw after college,’ Hunter said. ‘It’s all about consistency.’

‘- Nathan Vaughan, News Staff