Dec. 13, 2001
LEXINGTON, Ky. –
Jeff Chakouian isn’t your average 19-year-old college sophomore. While most college students spent their summers hanging out in their hometowns or working internships for their respective majors, Chakouian, a UK track and field athlete, was preparing to represent his country at the Junior Pan American Games in Argentina.
In mid-October, the Seekonk, Mass., native flew for more than 15 hours before boarding a bus for a seven-hour commute to the complex where he stayed during the games, not that fatigue would play a role in his performance. Chakouian grabbed international attention at the event, shattering the shot put record with not only his best throw, but with each of his five throws in the competition. His final toss of 19.92 meters/65 feet, 4.25 inches is now the Junior Pan-American Games record.
But breaking the record wasn’t even a question for Chakouian.
“I knew I was going to break the record,” Chakouian said. “I just didn’t know by how much. The plane trip was a real killer and then a seven-hour bus ride. It caught up with me quickly. If I had been fresh, I think I would have been a lot better.”
This “best isn’t good enough” mentality could be what makes Chakouian such a strong athlete. Chakouian came to Kentucky with outstanding credentials. He won the Massachusetts State shot put title as a senior and finished second at the Nike Indoor Classic and Footlocker National Scholastics Championships that same year. Track & Field News ranked Chakouian first nationally in the outdoor shot put.
For such a talented athlete, a decision about which college to choose was a big one. Chemistry with the coaching staff was enough to convince Chakouian that UK was the place for him.
“I hit it off perfect with the coaches, especially Coach (John) Kenneson,” Chakouian said. “I felt he could bring me where I wanted to be in four years. Also, the team was a really good group of people, and I felt really comfortable here.”
Chakouian felt comfortable enough in his first year at UK to not only smash the Wildcat record books, but leave a mark on the Southeastern Conference, one of the nation’s top track and field leagues. Right out of the gate last season, Chakouian finished fifth at the Junior World Championships before opening the UK season with a heave of 65-10.50, the top by any junior in the world in 2000 and a UK record.
He then turned around and won the shot put title at the Rod McCravy Memorial, earning him recognition by the SEC as the Track Athlete of the Week on Jan. 16. Chakouian won three more titles during the indoor season, including the SEC Indoor Championship. He followed that performance with a third-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships, earning him All-America honors.
Chakouian took second place at the SEC Outdoor Championships in May before capping off the stellar freshman campaign with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June for his second All-America honor.
That’s a remarkable list of accomplishments for a college athlete, even more so for one who still has three years left in his career. Chakouian has plans to use the rest of his time at Kentucky as training ground for his next goal, a medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
“I want to be an Olympian,” Chakouian said. “My whole life, since I started throwing the shot put in the ninth grade, I’ve wanted to be the best of the best. I want to be an Olympian and dominate on a world level.”
And Chakouian has a plan of attack for that goal as well, to qualify for the World Championships in 2003 before qualifying for the 2004 Olympic Team.
“I just want to be known as a great American shot putter,” Chakouian said, “and arguably the best.”
With a start like the one he’s enjoying at UK, that goal seems not only attainable but almost assured to such a determined young man.
