Julie Williams-Tinkham is October Athlete of the Month

Julie Williams-Tinkham (Twilight Throwers) has been named USATF-New England’s Athlete of the Month for October 2020 based on her throwing performance on October 11. In her second meet since COVID-19 stopped competition, Williams-Tinkham betterd the existing American record in the W40-44 super weight throw. At the meet in Hingham, Massachusetts,  Williams-Tinkham threw the 35-pound weight 9.81 meters. This isn’t Williams-Tinkham’s first record - she has set masters age group American records in five other throwing events and has been ranked as the No. 1 masters age group thrower in the country.  Outside the throwing circle, Williams-Tinkham has also been a coach at Babson College, and is a mother of two children, ages 14 and 8.
USATF-NE spoke with Williams-Tinkham about her performance.

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USATF-NE: How did you get acquainted with the Twilight Throwers?
Julie Williams-Tinkham: I threw in college when I went to UMaine- Orono. When I coached at Babson College, my athletes would want me to throw with them. It was fun to be in the circle, throwing the hammer, so I looked for some throwing clubs around so I didn’t have to compete unattached. That’s when I found the Twilight Throwers. They were the nearest to me at the time, so I really lucked out.

USATF-NE: Did you go into the meet thinking about setting the record?
JWT: No, when I throw, I throw because I enjoy it. I enjoy the whole experience of it. I am in a new age group, I turned 40 in June, I was hoping I’d be able to compete in my new age groups at the World Championships in Toronto, but obviously that couldn’t happen. There’s only been a couple meets, and I thought there were some attainable records in this age group, so I kind of knew the list of records and had them in the back of my mind. So when I threw it, I knew that it was one.

USATF-NE: What went through your mind when you found out you set an american record for your age division?
JWT: I wasn’t sure if I had heard the numbers correctly. I had said the old record, I said that’s the record, and the officials said, “Okay!” so they went back and pulled out the steel tape.

USATF-NE: Do you have a moment in your career as a thrower that you are most proud of?
JWT: Any meet where my daughter and my son can come and see me throw. They’re the ones that are my favorite and make me the most proud. I think that it’s important for them to see that you can still be competitive and a strong woman. I think that’s really why I do it, I do it for them. My daughter loves when I bring medals home, and she loves putting them on. 

USATF-NE: What are you working toward right now?
JWT: Right now i'm just trying to maintain my strength and my form. It's tricky with the current situation we’re in, with a pandemic, so I’m just doing what I can when I can.