Shot put stalwart thrives in the throwing circle

Beyond the Athlete: Eastlake's Brendan Sullivan is enjoying his senior track and field season.

By Shaun Scott • April 23, 2015 3:47 pm
Eastlake Wolves senior Brendan Sullivan’s favorite vacation spot to visit during the summer months is Ocean Shores. Sullivan has a personal record of 45 feet
Eastlake Wolves senior Brendan Sullivan’s favorite vacation spot to visit during the summer months is Ocean Shores. Sullivan has a personal record of 45 feet

A torn MCL (medial collateral ligament) suffered during the football season hasn’t stopped Eastlake Wolves shot put/discus thrower Brendan Sullivan from thriving in his favorite sport of track and field.

Sullivan, who will graduate from Eastlake High School this June, said his knee is close to 100 percent and the injury hasn’t adversely effected his performance in the discus and shot put this spring thus far.

The 5 feet, 11-inch, 270-pound Sullivan has posted a season best throw of 43 feet, 8 inches in the shot-put and 115 feet in the discus. Last season, he tossed the shot put a personal best 45 feet, 10 inches at the Class 4A KingCo meet.

Sullivan said he would love to compete at the Class 4A state meet in Tacoma this May but knows he has a long way to go in order to achieve that goal.

“Right now to get to state in shot put and it’s just an estimation, the throw will probably have to be 48 or 49 feet,” Sullivan said. “It is a really tough threshold and only the top five throwers from districts make it.”

Sullivan said his body type is more suited for shot put than discus.

“If you’re heavier you are obviously going to have a little bit more explosiveness potential, but if you’re taller then you have more reach and that definitely helps in discus,” he said. “In shot put I have a really explosive stance. That extra power I’m able to get allows me to throw further than most people.”

Recently the Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter had an opportunity to ask Sullivan a few questions about his life away from the world of track and field.

 

Issaquah Reporter: What is your favorite eatery in Sammamish?

Brendan Sullivan: The Sammamish Cafe. They got really good breakfast food. I love their pancakes.

 

IR: What is your dream vacation spot?

BS: A lot of my friends make fun of me for this but I like Ocean Shores. I love going there. I used to go there as a kid.

 

IR: What kind of music are you listening to the most in your iPod right now?

BS: If I want go calm, I will go classical but if I want to just chill out I listen to jazz or whatever I want.

 

IR: Who is your pick to win the NBA Finals this June?

BS: I don’t really follow basketball. Basketball is not my sport.

 

IR: If you could pick one person to go to dinner with, who would it be?

BS: Ghandi. He just seemed like a really interesting guy.

 

IR: Who was your idol growing up?

BS: Ichiro Suzuki. He was a really good baseball player. My parents love the Mariners.

 

Shaun Scott: 425-453-5045; sscott@bellevuereporter.com