Rock Island Today

No matter how far Marckus Simmons throws the hammer, it won't be enough until it brings him to his goal.

“I plan on winning the national championship," the Augustana College senior told the Rock Island Today recently.

At the Viking Olympics on April 1 in Rock Island, Simmons threw the hammer 200 feet, 1 inch, eclipsing the school record by 6 feet. The toss put him in first place among all NCAA Division III competitors.

His efforts earned him a share of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Athlete of the Week award with track and field teammate Tanner Osing. It was the third time the Westmont native has earned the honor in his Augustana career.

“It just shows that I'm being recognized for how hard I work," Simmons said. "And it's just pretty cool,” 

The national title would appear to be a natural progression for Simmons, who won the CCIW hammer throw in the last outdoor season and this year's indoor season. He qualified for the indoor national meet this year as well.

Having been throwing the hammer for just four years, Simmons said he worked on technique last summer to make specific muscles stronger. He also worked on his core and focused on being healthier.

“I've become to know myself more as an athlete,” he said. “I understand my body more. I understand the sport more. I'm more intelligent in that aspect.”

Simmons said he started with throwing sports in the sixth grade but did not start taking it seriously until he was a sophomore at Downers Grove North High School. One of his best friends, Nick Piker, was also his rival at throwing, and that fueled him to keep at it.

At Augustana, a big moment for Simmons came at the end of his sophomore season when he placed second in the CCIW. He decided to stay on campus instead of going home for the summer, with the idea of continuing to work on throwing.

“I haven't stopped for the past three years,” he said.

In recent action, Simmons won the hammer throw at the Lee Calhoun Memorial Invitational on April 15 in Macomb.