Rhode Island College senior thrower and former Cranston East standout Samantha Sainristil is wrapping up her indoor career in a big way, as she qualified for this weekend’s NCAA Division III National Championship in the weight throw. It will be her first-ever appearance at NCAA’s.

Sainristil has been dominant this season in both the weight throw and shot put. She earned All-NEICAAA honors in the weight throw and was named to the All-Little East First Team as well. She made the All-LEC Second Team in the shot put.

Perhaps her best showing of the winter was at the Coast Guard Invitational, where she took first in each event and set a new school record in the shot put with a throw of 12.25m. She also set new personal records in each event this season as well.

“I’m so excited, it’s my first time qualifying. I didn’t expect that I was going to be qualifying. My goal for this season was to PR and I did that by a lot. I didn’t start thinking about nationals until conference, and then I began thinking, ‘OK, I’m going to make it to nationals,” said Sainristil, who thought reaching the NCAA Championships was a far-fetched idea earlier in her career. “I’ve been saying to my coach that if he were to tell me freshman year I’d going to nationals, I would have laughed in his face.”

Although Sainristil will be leaving a historic resume in the program, things were not always easy as she relied on those around her to stay motivated to keep competing. She focused more on her form, as well as strength and conditioning, heading into her senior year, and the results have been excellent.

“My technique improved so much. I feel like this year and last year, I had a really good support system in my family and friends. Throughout the four years I was at RIC, I wanted to quit, but the people around me told me not to, and now I’m going to nationals,” said Sainristil.  

As she gets prepared to take on some of the best throwers in the country, she is focused on her own performance and is hoping to at least reach the podium.

“Looking at the marks, the competition looks tough looking purely at numbers. Anything can happen, we’re all going to be giving our best. I’m just happy to be competing against these girls. I feel like I’m going to PR and I feel like if I PR, then I’ll have chance at placing,” said Sainristil.

Sainristil will look back fondly on this season and hopes to pass her love for the sport on down to her family. 

“When I look back on this season, I’m going to be so proud. I’m just happy that I qualified for nationals, hopefully when I have kids they’ll be interested in track and field and I can tell them the story,” Sainristil said. “This has been my best indoor season ever and I’m so grateful.”