Bernard Looks to Throw Far in Final Season at Alabama
3/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama senior Candicea Bernard launched her outdoor track and field campaign last weekend at the John Mitchell Alabama Relays with her first shot put win of the season. A toss of 51 feet, 1 1/2 inches (15.58 meters) clinched the event for Bernard at the Tide's home opener on Friday, March 21.
Bernard and the entire Alabama track & field team hosts its second home meet of the 2015 outdoor season this weekend with the Crimson Tide Invitational on Friday and Saturday, March 27-28, at the Sam Bailey Track & Field Complex.
After a consistent 2015 indoor season, the senior is transitioning into her second outdoor season with the Crimson Tide. Bernard threw over 50 feet in five of six indoor competitions this year after only throwing over that mark once during indoor competition in 2014.
"Candi's consistency during indoors gave us a lot of confidence going into the outdoor portion of our season," said Alabama head coach Dan Waters. "She showed a great deal of improvement from the indoor season last year and this year, which is also an indicator of continued success down the line. Barring any injuries, I think she can do some big things for us later this season."
The senior's personal best in the event is 52-10 1/2 set at the 2014 NCAA East Preliminary meet. With that throw, Bernard bettered her previous outdoor personal best by over two feet. She finished just two spots shy of qualifying for the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
"I think Candi was a little disappointed that she threw so well last year at the regional meet but wasn't quite able to punch her ticket to the championships," Waters said. "However, I think it was a little bit of a motivator for her. She came back ready to attack the event this year, and I think it will pay off in her benefit."
Before joining the Tide, Bernard competed for Central Arizona Community College. In 2012, she won the National Junior College Athletic Association's national championship in the shot put, throwing a then-personal best of 50-7 1/4. The Golden Spring, Jamaica, native also won the NJCAA indoor weight title the same year.
"When we recruited Candi, we looked at the success she had at the junior college level," Water said. "We knew that she had a lot of potential to throw far in multiple events, especially under the coaching of Coach (Doug) Reynolds. She has made some great improvements since joining our program, and she's really the center of our women's throws squad right now."
Bernard was a highly regarded shot put and discus thrower before joining the Tide throws contingent in the fall of 2013. Along with her two indoor NJCAA titles in 2012, Bernard was also the runner-up in the discus at the 2012 NJCAA Outdoor Championships.
Before attending school in the United States, Bernard made history when she became the first female discus thrower from Jamaica to qualify for the World Junior Championships.
