INTRODUCTION: James O'Neill carries a heavy load in his Chemical Engineering classes. He has a heavy load in track & field, too: the weight throw, the discus, the shot put, the hammer, and the javelin.

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How old were you when you first became involved in track and field? How did that occur?
 I was a freshman in high school when I got started with track. I got started with track because I got cut from the basketball team at my school. I needed a winter sport and a lot of my teammates from football did track and so I followed.
 
What did you like about it that kept you involved?
 The thing about track that keeps me coming back is the relation of hard work to success. In many sports working as hard as you can, will help for sure but its won't end you up with success directly. A sport like throwing means that the more work and the more reps that you do the better that you become.
 
At Rochester, you have competed in three weight-related throwing events (shot put, weight throw, discus). Those each require a specific approach, don't they?
 Each event requires a specific technique for throwing. Shot put focuses more on speed to move the shot fast and strength to throw the shot far. Weight throw requires technical precision to make sure the ball is in the correct spots at specific points during the throw. Discus throw requires a more fluid movement that looks like some sort of dance move.
 
You also threw the javelin outdoors. That's a completely different approach, isn't it?
 For me personally javelin provides a unique challenge. To successfully throw a javelin, you must ensure that your elbow and shoulder work together while maintaining the correct body posture. Using the wrong body posture will end with sometimes severe injury. Making sure to have the correct body posture is fundamental to success in that event.
 
When you are getting ready to throw the 'heavier' pieces like the shot, the weight, the discus, and the hammer, where is your mental focus? 
For shot put I find myself in a different mental state than any other event. Events like weight, discus, and hammer I find myself preparing for a throw by thinking of the positions I need to hit. For shot put however I prepare myself by blocking out all technique and thinking about throwing the shot put strong and fast.

Besides watching the flight of the weighted item, is there another key that tells you it was a good throw?
The best way to see if a throw was good in most events is to look at the posture of the person as they release the implement. For every throw its important to have a proud chest. A chest that is facing the sector upright usually indicates a good throw.
 
At practice, what do you concentrate on with each of those items?
 Each implement has its own issues and what you focus on depends on your progress with the technique. Right now, for shot put, I am focusing on making sure my head stays neutral throughout the finish rather than pulling my head to the side.
 
Did you have a chance for any outside competition when you were at Cardinal Spellman HS in Massachusetts?
 I have had the ability to participate in the Bay State games which are a summer sporting event series which includes a track meet.
 
When you are home, do you work with any youth programs – coaching, counseling, serving as an official or a timer? What do you like about doing that?
 I used to referee soccer but that was a long time ago. I haven't really found any opportunities to do anything with track other than returning to throw with my old high school.
 
What led you to the University of Rochester?
 My junior year of high school I received a book award from the University of Rochester and decided it would be worth seeing at least. After contacting the track and field coaches here I was invited to a recruiting weekend here and fell in love with the school and the team atmosphere here.
 
Why did you choose Chemical Engineering as your major?
Chemistry for me has always been my favorite type of science and my math skills led me to believe engineering may be the correct way to go. After looking into chemical engineering and seeing the vast array of careers that I can follow when I graduate, I decided that chemical engineering both allows me to be intellectually stimulated while having many career options.
 
Are you involved in any campus groups tied to your studies?
As of right now I am not. I hope to expand what I do on the more academic side this year.