THROWIN’ DOWN: Strong arms lead AU track team into SECs

By Collin Mickle

Published: May 14, 2008

Zach Clayton is back in a familiar place: The discus circle.
When the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships begin today at Auburn’s Hutsell-Rosen Track, Clayton will be there.
The former Opelika standout was a bona-fide star in the sport as a high school senior. With five state titles in discus and shot put his OHS career, which ended in 2006, Clayton could look forward to a bright future in the sport.
The future is finally here.
The 6-foot-3, 286-pound Clayton is ranked seventh in the SEC and 24th nationally in the discus. Not bad for a man who took almost two full years off from the sport.
Clayton, who also starred on Opelika’s football team, signed a football scholarship with Auburn in 2006. At the start of his AU career, he decided to focus on the gridiron, where he redshirted as a true freshman defensive end, then moved to defensive tackle.
He broke into the rotation last season as a redshirt freshman, playing in 10 games and finishing with eight tackles. He battled for a starting position and will play extensively as one of the Tigers’ top four tackles.
With his future in football looking good, the time seemed right to return to track. So, with the permission of head football coach Tommy Tuberville and defensive line coach Don Dunn, Clayton joined AU’s track and field team.
Two years’ worth of rust wasn’t easy to shake off.
“I’m definitely not where I was as a high school senior,” Clayton said. “If I was there, I’d be throwing farther right now. My technique’s slipped a little bit over the two years.
“But I’m starting to get back into it.”
He has one considerable advantage: Good coaching from a familiar source.
Clayton’s father, Jerry Clayton, coaches Auburn’s throwers. Jerry, Auburn’s assistant head coach, was named the 2007 Coach of the Year by the North America, Central America and Caribbean Track & Field Coaches
Association.
Jerry Clayton says his son is improving — thanks in part to the 30 pounds of muscle he’s added thanks to football workouts.
“He’s come a long way, but this is the SEC — the elite of the elite,” Jerry Clayton said. “It’s not an easy conference. He’s a freshman, so there’s that factor as well.”
For now, Zach Clayton is keeping his goals simple.
“I’m just hoping to score points for the team,” he said.
Clayton is part of a deep group of throwers who will be competing for AU at this week’s Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The group includes defending national champion Jacob Dunkleberger (hammer throw), two-time national champ Edis Elkasevic (shot put, discus) and five-time SEC champ Cory Martin (shot put, hammer throw). Martin and Dunkleberger are ranked 1-2 nationally this season in the hammer throw.
Clayton’s collegiate resume doesn’t match up to his teammates’ — not yet.
But he’s back in the sport, and getting better every day.

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