Emily Webb is the heartbeat of Niceville High’s “Throwsville,” her coaching directly responsible for 14 individual state championships, another 12 state runners-up and five team state titles.
Joe Kovacs is a two-time world champion shot putter, a three-time Olympian silver medalist and his throw of 23.23 meters trails only Ryan Crouser for the farthest throw ever in competition. His wife, Ashley, is the 2024 US Olympic Team Women’s Throws Coach.
On Nov. 22 and 23, the trio are putting their wealth of throwing knowledge together for a two-day Throvacs camp that marks their third camp at Niceville High but first on the big calendar of nationwide clinics. This one, though, is more inclusive to all area athletes, not just former, current or future Eagles.
“Obviously I’ve always been a huge advocate for throwing and growing the sport,” said Webb, whose sent 45 athletes to throw at college. “But I would like everyone that can benefit from this to have the opportunity to do so. We have a world champion and Olympic medalist coming in, coach of Team USA, so this is the best of the best.”
The clinic is $250 per day or $450 if you bundle both days, and registration can be done at https://throvacs.com/. Saturday will cover the shot put and Sunday will be devoted to the discus, the morning sessions running from 9:30 a.m. to noon and the afternoon sessions runs from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re new to the sport or in college for throwing, this is for everyone,” Webb said. “Every athlete out there will benefit in and outside the ring, we’ll make sure of that.”
Webb met the Kovacs three years ago when the couple stopped by the Eagle track and field training facility to get some throws in for Joe while the family was on vacation in Destin. Webb just so happened to be driving by the facilty and had to do a double-take. Once she met the couple, they realized they had joint connections. From there, the friendship quickly blossomed into a business relationship.
Now the trio are putting on camps nationewide with an intent of, as the website puts it, “providing a unique opportunity to train with two of the sport’s most accomplished professionals and helping athletes of all levels sharpen their technique, build strength, and develop the competitive mindset needed to excel on the big stage.”
Joe Kovacs has been the top thrower in the world for most of this year and is coming off a Diamond League Championship in Switzerland, where he proved he should’ve been at the Tokyo World Championships competing with rival Ryan Crouser, the only thrower in the history of the sport with a farther shot put distance than Kovacs.
Now this is his offseason, the big man ready to coach up next generation’s of throwers alongside his wife and Webb.
“It’s exciting for us to be here when, for me, as the top level of our sport, to see the development level and see it,” Joe said. “At this level, with what Emily is doing, you seeing the kids first day of practice to kids winning a state championship.”
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Olympian Joe Kovacs, Team USA coach teaming with Niceville’s Emily Webb for 2-day camp
Reporting by Seth Stringer, Northwest Florida Daily News / Northwest Florida Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
