Boulder, CO (U-WIRE) -- When Chase Mullen attended high school in Lyons, he never really envisioned being among the top throwers on the CU track and field team. While competing in multiple events, including the high jump and discus for Lyons Academy, he claims he didn't even know of the event in which he now specializes -- the hammer.

The hammer is an outdoor throwing event, where the athlete spins the hammer and releases it aiming for distance.

CU head coach Mark Wetmore explained, however, that perhaps the object thrown isn't best described by its name.

"Imagine a shot put attached to a 3-foot wire with a handle on the end," is how the veteran coach described the apparatus. "It doesn't look a whole lot like a hammer."

Mullen claims his track and field numbers in high school were "decent" but not really at the collegiate level. Nevertheless, he decided to try to make the Buffs' roster as a walk-on as a freshman. Now, he isn't sure whether to attribute his making the team to the coach's magnanimity or his keen eye for an athlete's promise.

"I'm not sure if he felt sorry for me or saw some glimmer of potential, but he let me on the team and I ended up blossoming pretty quickly," said Mullen.

One of the reasons for his quick rise in throwing events was his discovery of weightlifting - something he said he neglected prior to coming to CU. He burgeoned by 50 pounds in his freshman year, and the added bulk and strength contributed to his success.

Mullen has competed in multiple events over his career at CU, including discus and indoor weight throw. In his final season, however, he has worked exclusively at the hammer.

While strength certainly plays a role in an athlete's success in the event, Mullen feels that technique is even more important than muscle.

"The hammer is a bit more technical than some of the other events," he said. "You have to be very perfectly balanced and have great timing - or otherwise, no matter how strong you are, you can fall over."

Unfortunately, Mullen feels he was at his best in 2004, but his best went for naught.

"Last year I threw over the school record maybe a half-dozen times," he said. "But it doesn't count because it was a redshirt year."

Entering this season, the fifth-year senior injured his back and missed a valuable month of preparation doing rehab.

"This year I've been in a bit of a slump and I'm feeling pretty frustrated," Mullen said. "(The injury) really threw off my timing and I had to spend a month in rehab."

Despite the "slump" and the injury setback, Mullen's throw of 188-4 won the event at the Ris Western-Air Force Twilight meet, the Buffs' final tuneup before the conference championships. He competed in the event only hours after attending commencement ceremonies at Folsom Field.

Multitasking, however, is something the architecture planning major has grown accustomed to doing. As if being a student-athlete weren't demanding enough of one's time, Mullen has been working for Winston Associates, an urban planning company, for more than a year.

"It's been hectic," he said of his schedule. "But everyone has been pretty accommodating."

Mullen singled out throws coach Casey Malone, who he said has gone out of his way to help him train on a flexible schedule.

Wetmore believes Mullen has the potential to peak as his career winds to a close.

"Chase is one our two best hammer throwers," he said. "That's his specialty. He will certainly threaten the school record before the season is over."

Regardless of how he finishes, Mullen has learned some valuable lessons as a student-athlete.

"The thing I've gained the most from my experiences here is that hard work really does pay off," he said. "I can see a direct link, knowing how much time I've spent in the weight room and training and how I'm throwing. It seems to me that it's one of the rare examples of when life is more fair than unfair."

(C) 2004 Colorado Daily via U-WIRE