Watch VideoThe Dream Starts Here - Dana Pounds
Story By: Lee Douglas
Source: KOAA
Calling someone an overnight sensation is rarely accurate. But in the case of javelin thrower and former Air Force Falcon Dana Pounds it just may be true.
Pounds is the first featured athlete in News First’s award winning documentary series “The Dream Starts Here.”
Dana first threw a javelin in the spring of 2003. Five years later she’s the best in this country. Scott Irving, the assistant track and field coach at Air Force and Dana’s personal coach says, “I think that's safe to say and I still say the sky is the limit."
Dana, from Lexington, Kentucky was recruited to play basketball at Air Force but that never worked out. Dana left the basketball team after her freshman year.
Pounds told News First Sports Director Lee Douglas, “I'm appreciative for the failure I had in basketball.”
Dana’s brother, who also attended the Air Force Academy, introduced Dana to Irving. “My brother knew that I was a state champion a couple of times in high school”, said Pounds. “He said can I tell him you throw the shot and discus. I said sure that would be awesome."
But at 5 feet 2 inches tall and only 140 pounds Irving knew she was too petite for the shot or discus. Irving had other ideas. “Her brother had told me she was a catcher in high school also and she could pick off people trying to steal second,” said Irving. “That told me she also had a very quick arm."
Dana picked up the sport very quickly. “My freshman and sophomore year were just a blast because just about every meet was a personal record, “said Pounds. “Do you know how much fun it is to be better at something every time you come out there? I kind of realized that second meet my sophomore year something big was going to happen."
Dana became the most decorated athlete in Air Force track and field history and perhaps the best women’s athlete ever. A three-time conference champ and 2004 Olympic Trials qualifier, Dana closed out here Air Force career with back to back NCAA titles.
She’s now a second lieutenant in the Air Force and part of the Military’s World Class Athletes Program. She’s currently ranked first in the U.S. and in the top 25 in the world and will almost certainly be part of the USA contingent in Beijing.
“To think that I'm possible going to be a part of it just absolutely blows my mind," said Pounds. Irving adds, “I'm not her dad but I would be like a proud papa. No doubt I'll shed a tear when she's out there but I know she can make it."
