Spring Break
Rhody track member strives for athletic, scientific success
Kyle Towne
Issue date: 1/30/09 Section: Sports
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Lehmann, who throws the discus, javelin, weight, hammer and shot put, has competed in multiple meets this season, while keeping up with her classwork.
"It takes a lot of work balancing out my schedule," Lehmann said. "I need to use my time well, and not waste any."
Lehmann spends one day a week in the URI lab at Fogarty Hall, working on a way to prevent the HIV virus.
Lehmann joined the Rhode Island Inbred Program last summer, where undergrads receive a project and work side by side with a professor on it. Over the summer she worked on an anti-cancer project. As she continued through to the fall, she moved on to her current HIV project.
"We are using a combination of drugs that you take orally to make an HIV agent," Lehmann said. "If we are successful, there will be a pill that you can take before intercourse that would prevent you from contracting the virus."
She is originally from New Jersey, but spends the majority of the year here in Rhode Island.
"I haven't been able to go to the lab more than once a week this year, but this summer I plan on being there every day," Lehmann said. "I like it up here, it's a lot less crowded than New Jersey. You can actually drive somewhere in 10 minutes."
Lehmann has been throwing ever since she began in junior high school. She has stuck with it every year, although she throws in different seasons.
"It can be difficult to be competing in random seasons," Lehmann said. "It's hard to change every year whether I'm competing in indoor, outdoor or both."
In the winter, Lehmann throws the shot put and the weight. She enjoys the spring better, when she throws the discus, javelin and hammer.
Lehmann has adjusted to life here in Rhode Island and said she is really enjoying it.
"It's so much more relaxed up here," Lehmann said. "I love the beaches and the country feeling here."
Her favorite food is chocolate, but before meets Lehmann enjoys pasta and tomato sauce. Although she has no type of "pre-meet rituals," she is superstitious.
"I always wear a watch and colorful socks whenever I throw," Lehmann said. "I also write down every distance of all of my throws."
Lehmann is in her third year of eligibility for the Rams, and is hoping to continue her career at URI, whether she's throwing a shot put or running a test in the laboratory.
