Another year, another program record
LH graduate Pierce breaks her own mark at Duquesne
In what she hopes is a recurring trend, Duquesne University junior Mia Pierce bested her own program record in the discus throw at the Widener University Final Qualifier in her final competition of the season.
The 2023 graduate of Laurel Highlands High School released a throw of 50.60 meters (166-0 feet) in the last-chance meet to win the meet and become the first Duke in program history to top the 50-meter mark. Pierce broke the school’s record in the event last season with a throw of (49.55/162-7).
Pierce earned first place in three other last-chance meets at Akron (49.52/162-6), West Virginia (47.78/156-9) and Mount Union (44.35/145-6).
She didn’t make any significant changes from her sophomore to junior seasons, but a few minor details in her technique were instrumental in another record-breaking performance.
“A lot of it came down to fixing smaller things in my technique, and just drilling it consistently every single day and getting it down,” Pierce said. “It is important to work on strength and being in great condition, but technique is what it all comes down to when separating the top throwers, especially at this level.”
Pierce fell just short of qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field East Regional at the University of Kentucky, but was still pleased with her season.
“It was a little unfortunate because I missed the first rounds by just a little bit,” Pierce said. “The East Regional was really good this year. I don’t want to take anything for granted, but I have one season left, so I hope that I can qualify.”
Pierce returned to Uniontown for the summer and makes her way to the throwing area at her alma mater to train.
“My coach gives me a training plan to follow until I go back to campus in August,” Pierce said. “I follow a strict plan, but I make up my own schedule in the summer. It is nice to have the throwing area right there for me.
“During the season, I practice with my teammates, so it is a little different to training on my own. I prefer to train with someone, but I just have to adjust. It is nice to see people I know when I come back and work out at LH.”
Pierce and her teammates are on a strict schedule when they return for the fall semester.
Pierce will also be working on her final two clinicals as a nursing major. Despite the hectic schedule, Pierce relishes the opportunity to learn in the numerous hospitals that are near the Duquesne campus in Pittsburgh.
“We are really lucky at Duquesne in that we start our clinicals as sophomores,” Pierce said. “I have already had four clinicals, as you have one per semester. At times, it can be hard to balance clinicals, school and athletics, but it is beneficial to be so close to the hospitals in Pittsburgh and see how they operate. We will get to most of them at some point.”
Prior to her time at Duquesne while competing for the Mustangs, Pierce earned two state medals in the discus as a junior and senior, and also qualified for the state meet in the javelin in her senior campaign.