Q&A with Andy Fahringer

Story Links

In his first competition of the year, redshirt junior Andy Fahringer (Whitehall, Pa.) threw a personal-best 239′ 7″ in the javelin at the Raleigh Relays. That mark ranks fourth nationally and first in the ACC this season. It is also second on Virginia’s all-time track and field record board, trailing just Brian Kollar – who threw an ACC and UVa record 243′ 6″ in 2001. The ACC runner-up in the throw last year, Fahringer will look to improve his mark and pass Kollar in both the conference and school record books as the season goes on.

This weekend, the Cavaliers will split up for competition with some competitors heading to Lynchburg, Va., for the Liberty Invitational, while others will go to Williamsburg, Va., for the Colonial Relays. Both events are scheduled to take place on Friday and Saturday.

Question: Do you find it difficult to train year round for one season of competition, while some of your other teammates are able to compete all year long?
Fahringer: Well, training never gets stale with coach Carrie Lane. But it is frustrating to watch everyone do well during the indoor season and not be able to compete. It fuels the fire and makes me train harder.

Question: You throw both the discus and javelin. Is it difficult training for two completely different events?
Fahringer: I have always loved the discus and picked up the spin very well. Training for both is fun, but frustrating at times. The discus spin takes a lot of reps and drilling to perfect. On the other hand, discus is now a nice distraction from the javelin. Javelin is usually very taxing on my body so the discus is a nice change of the javelin monotony.

Question: Do you have a preference of one over the other?
Fahringer: Javelin, no question. I love the discus, but there is no better feeling than seeing that javelin take off.

Question: You’ve inched your way closer to Brian Kollar’s school record in the javelin. Is that something that you have your eye on?
Fahringer: Ever since I stepped on Grounds, I have wanted that record. To be this close this early in the season is fantastic. Raleigh Relays was a real weight lifted off my shoulders. The first throw of the competition was a personal best and it was the first time in my college career that I had a big throw early in the competition. The series was also very consistent, which is another positive from the meet. Last season I did not open up well. I had three good meets but very inconsistent throws. This year, I was able to train the entire offseason without significant injury and coach Lane and I made some technical changes that will lead to much bigger throws. The credit for this successful meet is on God, my coaching staff and all the trainers that keep me glued together. Without them, this throw never happens.

Question: What are some of your goals for this year?
Fahringer: My goals are based off consistency. I want to be consistently over 70-meters in the javelin. I want the school record and to be in the hunt for a national title. All of these goals are very reachable. I need to stay healthy, stay hungry and stay consistent.

Question: How did you get involved with track and field?
Fahringer: I started track my freshman year in high school and I threw all three throwing events: shot put, discus and javelin. At first, shot put was my strong point, but then the other two events took off. By the end of my high school career, I was focusing on the discus and javelin. I started by a suggestion from my father, mainly because I wasn’t playing baseball anymore and my grades usually were better while I was competing in a sport.

Question: Have you ever tried any other events; other throws, other field events or even anything on the track?
Fahringer: My junior year I ran the “tanker” relay – the 4x100m. It was just throwers during the dual meets for the last event. It was fun but I wouldn’t want to run for my sport ever again. I always wanted to compete in the long jump though, I think I could have held my own.

Question: What do you think is the toughest track or field event to compete in?
Fahringer: I would say the sprints. For most other events, they have multiple throws, jumps or long distances to make up. But with sprints, when the gun goes off, there is only one opportunity to drop the best time possible. If you have a bad start, there is no second chance. I have the most respect for consistently good sprinters.

Question: Off the track, what do you like to do with your free time?
Fahringer: I enjoy the outdoors. If I were able to get home during the spring, I would do some turkey hunting and a lot of fishing. That’s a part of my life that I miss while I have been away at school. While I am at school, I enjoy hanging with friends and playing video games. I am a huge Call of Duty nerd, but it does a great job of distracting me from school and other obligations.