Returning to form

Laura Stern of the UNH women's track & field team placed first in the javelin throw at Northeastern University's Husky Open on March 24. This was the first time Stern had completed in three years due to numerous injuries. 

Stern threw a 147-07 to beat the 28 other throwers at the competition. The throw was also the 29th best this season nationwide.

In 2009, during Stern’s freshman season, she placed first in the America East Outdoor Championship as well as in the New England Outdoor Championship, third in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship, and seventh in the NCAA Regional. Stern had a very promising future, but her first setback came near the end of that season when she underwent ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction, also known as Tommy John surgery.

Tommy John surgery is a procedure in which the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from somewhere else on the person’s body. In Stern’s case, the tendon came from her wrist. It is almost always a successful procedure where the athletes come back perfectly, okay, if not with better ability.

“It was devastating,” Stern said. “I knew it was a full year recovery.”

Stern, a senior exercise science major, spent her sophomore year working out the arm and building back all the strength she lost following the surgery.

When Stern finally did return, she was anxious to get her outdoor junior season going since missing her sophomore season altogether. Unfortunately, she would soon run into another obstacle in her collegiate athletic career.

That February, less than a month away from her return to outdoor competition, Stern tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

“Coming back junior year, knowing I was going to be ready to compete again was exciting,” Stern said. “Then when I tore my ACL, it was completely demoralizing.”

With the new injury, competing in her junior season was no longer a possibility for Stern. All she could do was wait to undergo surgery.

Following the surgery, Stern was determined to compete in her senior year and was not going to let anything get in the way. She focused once again on regaining the strength lost from surgery.

“It was a matter of trying to get the control of those muscles in my leg back,” Stern said. “I’m still not 100 percent with my hamstring … but I’m back strength wise.”

Stern proved this at the Husky Open where she dominated the field, making sure everyone knew that she was back and ready to compete.

“Actually, two of my biggest competitors from our conference were there,” Stern said “For me, it wasn’t even so much about the distance I threw or winning the meet. It was more of a statement to them … I’m back and I am ready to go.”

Stern was named the America East Field Performer of the Week following the Husky Open. More recently, she won the javelin competition at Maine on Saturday with a toss of 127-10.

Stern seems to have a strong and competitive energy about her when she speaks about her sport and the road that lies ahead. The path that has brought her here has not been smooth, but that remains in the past and Stern is focused on the present and future.

“I have some pretty high expectations,” Stern said. “Right now, I’m here for my team.”

Stern mentioned how she has been told that she has two completely new and fixed joints in her body and that simply competing is an accomplishment. Just competing is not enough for Stern, however. She wants to win.

Stern is focused on helping her team defend its New England Championship title, but she also has goals for competing after college.

“It’s Olympic year and based on that first throw of the season of 147, it’s not far off from the B-standard for the Olympic trials,” Stern said. 

The B-standard is 165. An Olympic appearance is a common goal among athletes, but only the few and most determined of them ever makes it even close to that field. Given all that she has been through, Stern has proven that she has the will and desire to compete with anyone.