48 // VARSITY February 27, 2014
WATCH: LIHRMAN SETS NCAA RECORD
Lihrman's throw, which shattered his own school
best by over four feet, is also the best mark in the
world in 2014. He has competed in the weight throw
four times this season, emerging victorious on each
occasion and extending his own school record three
times.
According to Lihrman, success in the weight throw
comes from success in the weight room.
"You really need to get your strength levels up,"
he said. "Because if you aren't
strong, if you aren't heavy, the
weight will throw you around,
rather than vice versa. You
need to be able to counter the
weight."
Much of his time in the
weight room came last year
during his redshirt season.
The training was grueling and Olympic lifts were re-
quired twice a week.
"Man, did we ever work hard," he said. "The weight
lifting killed me early on and I was always tired. Dave
just kept telling me that I would get used to it. He
said eventually I would be able to do it and be able
to succeed. I can see that progress now. I'm getting
stronger and my technique is improving."
An added benefit to getting stronger is gaining the
ability to increase ball speed on his spins before re-
leasing the throw. Astrauskas says Lihrman has im-
proved in this area, which generates longer throws.
"To be able to do that takes strength, and I think
the strength gains have played a big role in his devel-
opment," Astrauskas said.
Lihrman, who has Olympic aspirations, expected
to be good. But he didn't expect to be this good, and
certainly not this fast.
"I've been way better than
I could ever have thought,"
he conceded. "You look at all
these other guys throwing and
seeing their marks and you
can only assume that you can
expect yourself to move up so
many feet each year, so many
feet each season."
But Lihrman isn't just setting personal records by
a matter of inches. He is demolishing them. A year
ago his best stood at 68-6. This season, it's 79-7 1/2.
"I'm pretty much a freak," he said. "I don't know
how I'm doing it. I still don't have the greatest form
and I don't have the greatest strength levels. So that
just pushes me to know that I can keep improving.
I'm always surprising myself."
Lihrman's rapid improvements have surprised
"EVERY TIME I PUT A DISTANCE
ON WHAT I THINK MICHAEL CAN
THROW, HE SURPASSES IT,"
ASTRAUSKAS CONCEDED. "BIGGER
MARKS ARE GOING TO COME."
