Tap Havea’s Path to Big 12 Dominance and Personal Bests at Arizona
Arizona senior Tapenisa Havea has capped her collegiate career with a dominant performance in the shot put, securing titles at both the Big 12 Indoor and Outdoor Championships. The New Zealander’s success follows a deliberate shift in mindset during her final season.
A Shift in Perspective
Havea admitted to struggling with doubt and worry throughout the winter, specifically regarding her competition. She decided to pivot her focus away from her opponents and instead aimed to beat her own previous personal bests.
This mental adjustment, supported by her faith, parents, community and coaches, led to an early season breakthrough. Havea took first place in her first meet of the season with a personal best shot put throw of 56-6.
Technical Precision and Maturity
Coach Lucais MacKay, who has coached Havea for all four of her years at Arizona, noted her increased life maturity and deeper knowledge of technical cues. MacKay suggested that athletes in their final collegiate run often find an additional “10%” of effort they were not previously utilizing.
The road to the Big 12 titles included a technical hurdle after Havea competed for Team New Zealand at the World Indoor Championships in Poland in late March. The experience broke her normal Arizona routine, which MacKay noted may have affected her technique.
To resolve this, Havea and MacKay agreed that she should push on the ball as hard as possible, even if the throw felt “off.” This focus on intention helped her secure the shot put title at the Big 12 Indoor Championships (55-0.75) and the Big 12 Outdoor Championships (52-10.75).
Mentorship and Focus
Havea’s drive was further influenced by two-time world champion Chase (Ealey) Jackson, a former athlete of MacKay’s at Oklahoma State. Jackson served as a mentor to Havea while she competed against elite athletes at the World Championships.
In a display of professional focus, Havea removed her nail polish before the Big 12s. She told MacKay, “They’re all gone. Back to business … I can’t be throwing stuff with nails on,” following advice from Jackson to “lock in.”
Looking Ahead
In addition to her shot put victories, Havea finished fifth in the discus at the outdoor championships with a season-best throw of 173-7. She continues to focus on the technical aspects of throwing to find the most efficient way to throw far.
Havea is now preparing for the NCAA West Regionals in Arkansas, scheduled for May 27-30. A strong performance there could lead to a possible opportunity to compete at the NCAAs at Hayward Field in Oregon from June 10-14.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What titles did Tapenisa Havea win this season? Havea won the shot put at both the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships and the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
- How did Havea’s mindset change during her senior year? She stopped worrying about who she was going up against and instead focused on beating her own previous personal bests while enjoying the moment.
- Who served as a mentor to Havea during the World Indoor Championships? Two-time world champion Chase (Ealey) Jackson, a former athlete of coach Lucais MacKay, provided mentorship to Havea.
Do you believe a shift in mindset is more critical than technical training for athletes in their final competitive season?