Lamparek is a 'gamer' for Iowa

IOWA CITY - Ryan Lamparek is what Iowa throws coach Scott Cappos calls “a gamer.”

The bigger the meet, the better Lamparek performs. The red-shirt sophomore from Fairfax consistently has improved his throwing distance in each of his two competitive seasons at Iowa. His latest performance in the shot put sent him to the NCAA Championships this week At Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

“Three of the four Big Ten Championships he's competed in, he's set a personal best,” Cappos said. “The regional championship he set another personal best by over a foot to qualify him for Eugene. He's a great competitor.”

Lamparek earned his trip with a 58-foot, 4-inch launch at the NCAA regional meet in Austin, Texas. He's seeded 23rd of the 24 competitors in the event.

“The great thing about it is I had my best day ever (at regionals) and there's still a lot of room to work,” Lamparek said. “I can work on a lot of stuff and throw a lot farther. There's really simple fixes that I feel can get in the next two weeks.”

Some of his improvement he attributes to technique.

“At regionals what I focused on was as soon as I get to the middle, I just go after it and hitting it as hard as I can,” Lamparek said. “Just waiting and really turning and pushing on the ball as long as I possibly can. I knew I felt that from my first throw. Even in warm-ups I felt I was going to have a good day.”

Lamparek, a 21-year-old health promotion major, has good track and field bloodlines. His parents, Gary and Darla Lamparek, competed in the sport at Northern Iowa. In 2007 as a senior at Cedar Rapids Prairie, Lamparek won the Drake Relays and Class 4A state titles in the shot put, as well as a Drake crown in the discus.

He was recruited by several schools including Virginia, Oregon and Iowa State before choosing Iowa and earning a partial scholarship. He red-shirted his first year, in part just to get used to the heavier ball and Iowa's weightlifting program.

Last year as a red-shirt freshman, Lamparek earned a spot in the regional field in the discus. This year, he took another step in the shot put. Cappos, who has coached 17 All-Americans in field events at Iowa, said Lamparek could become the next in a solid line of Iowa throwers.

“He's just starting to figure things out,” Cappos said. “He's got potential to be an All-American in two events by 2011 and this year, he's gunning to be an All-American.”

Expectations are high but not unrealistic for Lamparek. He hopes to hit 18 meters this weekend - about 59 feet - which would set another personal best and likely earn him All-American honors. The placing will take care of itself.

“I feel if I can do that, throw 18 meters-plus, then I'll get All-American,” Lamparek said. “I'm going to focus on what I can do and let the rest work itself out.”

Iowa men's track coach Larry Wieczorek praised Lamparek's work ethic as vital in his improvements.

“Everything is starting to come together,” Wieczorek said. “He threw well at the Big Ten meet and got a place. He goes to the first round of the NCAA and makes even a bigger step.

“The people who really love what they're doing and they're in it for the long haul, they've got the best chance to succeed. This weekend was kind of proof of that.”