Competing at major track and field championships is nothing new for javelin thrower Ariana Ince.
The veteran javelin thrower has made three World Championships teams and the 2021 Olympic team. While she admitted that she’s made all four teams in four different ways, the lessons that she’s learned over the years have gotten her to the position that she’s in now: ready to achieve great things at the highest stage.
Ince is coming off of a productive 2022 season that saw her take home the silver medal at the NACAC Championships, as well throw a new personal best of 64.36m, which is the fourth best throw in American History. She also was a member of the 2022 World Championship team. While she admitted that her season got off to a rocky start, she’s still confident in the work that she’s put in this season.
“It’s definitely been pretty challenging,” she said. “I started off really rough at Mount SAC and I’ve just kept constantly going to these Diamond League competitions, which I felt like is so hard because I knew that I deserved to be there because I finally felt like I’d earned my place there, and then I just couldn’t show up on the day. I just couldn’t really get it together at USA’s – it was frustrating. And I just kept feeling like I couldn’t catch a break, and that’s the Javelin. So it’s been a really frustrating season, but I know that I’m putting in the work and learning the lessons that I need to learn. As much as I don’t want to make the Olympics more important than World Championships, to be in a position where when the big one rolls around, I’m prepared and I’m ready.”
One of the things that’s helped her throughout the season is remembering her love for the event. When she’s not throwing the javelin, she works as a Senior Ergonomist at N.C. State. With the rigors and chaos of her job outside of track and field, the javelin is where she finds her peace and has the most fun.
“The javelin sometimes feels like the easiest part of my day,” she said. “The Javelin is my escape from everything else. The Javelin is the control of chaos. And that’s why this year was hard when it wasn’t going well, because I was like, but this is the part that’s supposed to be easy, and this is the part that’s supposed to be my respite from all of the rest of the chaos. So I was like, I’ve got an idea. Let’s create more chaos over here. So this is fun again. And I feel like (a recent) practice was a great example of that because I couldn’t stop throwing. I was like, this is so fun, I just want to keep throwing the javelin.”
One of the things that excites Ince about Budapest is having the opportunity to cheer on her friends and fellow athletes that she knows well. Her joy is genuine when it comes to seeing others succeed, and it makes the experience more fun for her.
“I think the thing that will be the most fun is that having been on for world championship teams and then also the Olympic team is that this far into the game, you just you know so many people that you’re going to be on the team with, and that’s that’s what makes it so much more fun and the pressure kind of goes away,” she said. “I’ve never been to Budapest, which I’m excited about, but I know so many people that are going to be on that team and it’s just going to be so fun to be around everyone and just be able to cheer them on, and know so much of their stories. That is the part that I’ve been honestly most excited about. Competing is obviously wonderful and having another USA suitcase in my closet – I’m never gonna frown upon that. But just being able to be with those people that I’ve been on many teams with and trained with, and all those sorts of things will be really great.”
For Ince, having friends and strong connections in the sport is important to her because of their ability to relate to the things that she goes through as an athlete. While she’s excited to cheer on her friends in the sport in their respective events, make no mistake, she’s in it to win it.
“I’ve had meets all throughout this year where I got to see my friends,” she said. “And I think that’s the beauty of track and field as we’re not really on a team, we’re kind of spread out all over the U.S. And there are these people all throughout the United States who are the only other ones that you really feel like they’re the only other people that understand what you’re going through or what you’re doing. And you get to see them maybe two or three times a year, but it’s in these very intense emotional moments. And so you’re just there for each other.
This is not altruistic, like I just want to go watch and hang out with my friends. I absolutely want to do well, I want to kick butt I want to prove that I can essentially save this season. But the real joy and excitement of making these teams and the real fear of not making them has so much more to do with wanting to experience this very specific thing with the people that I’m close to.”
