KENNESAW, Ga. | Aug 2, 2024

At a climbing gym on Busbee Parkway, a Kennesaw State University student scales a sheer wall as fast as anyone in the world in the sport of speed climbing.

Back on campus, on a patch of pavement near The Perch, a coach and two athletes have put KSU on the map in track and field’s weight throws.

Two of the three are rewriting KSU athletics history at the Paris Olympic Games now underway.

Kennesaw State junior and national team speed climber Emma Hunt will soon etch her name among Owl Olympians. She became one of the first Americans to secure a spot in the Paris Olympics last August, earning a silver medal at the speed climbing world championship in Bern, Switzerland. Earlier this year, she won a World Cup event in Salt Lake City, gaining momentum for the Olympics.

She looks forward to her first Olympic experience, as she has dreamed of competing for the U.S. for a long time, and she will have had nearly a year of training to sharpen her skills for the games.

Away from the gym, Hunt takes classes online and said her professors and fellow students have supported her competition and training goals. The day-to-day routine involves both physical and mental preparation, though she said her training schedule accommodates her school.

“The structure of my weekly routine is dynamic and intricately linked to my training plan,” she explained. “While lacking a fixed schedule applicable every week, a standard week involves a dual-training approach. Intense morning or early afternoon sessions precede academic commitments, followed by a second training block post-class. This strategy aims to optimize both physical and mental preparedness for the demands of competitive climbing at the Olympic level.”

Even in an individual sport like climbing, no one does it alone. Hunt cited the support of family, friends, and training partners in fueling her journey on the path to Paris.

“Their role extends beyond mere encouragement; they are integral contributors to my journey,” she said. “Whether cheering during training sessions, celebrating victories, or providing unwavering support during challenging times, my family, and friends play a pivotal role in my preparation.”

Hunt has competed internationally since 2019, training at Stone Summit Climbing Gym near Kennesaw State’s campus. While the 21-year-old Woodstock native has already filled up a passport and won competitions around the world, the Olympics inevitably throw a few surprises at even the most experienced athletes.

“Presently, there haven't been any specific surprises since the World Championships. However, as the Olympics draw nearer, I anticipate that the journey will unveil unforeseen experiences—both gratifying and challenging,” she said. “The dynamic nature of elite-level competition ensures that surprises are inevitable, and I am prepared to navigate and learn from them as I sharpen my focus on the Olympic Games.”

Back on campus last spring, Daniel Haugh and Isaiah Rogers worked to perfect their craft each day with the help of Kennesaw State assistant track and field coach Mike Judge.

Marietta’s Haugh won the hammer throw at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships before finishing 11th at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, contributing to KSU’s Olympic history. His story continued earlier this year, setting a world record in the indoor weight throw, solidifying himself as a favorite to qualify for a second Olympics in the hammer throw this summer.

Nearby, Smyrna’s Rogers made mental notes of what Haugh does day in and day out because he, too, had his eye on a spot in the Paris Olympics. Rogers won the weight throw at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in 2023 and finished second in the U.S. indoor championship behind Haugh, giving him some momentum into the outdoor season.

Meanwhile, Judge looked on like a proud father.

“This is something great for Kennesaw State,” Judge said. “Everybody would expect a Georgia or Alabama to produce Olympians, and I enjoy doing it at Kennesaw because it's not an expectation here. At other schools, they have a history of Olympians. We're trying to develop the history here. We're trying to write the history books.”

The first aspect of it involved bringing Haugh and Rogers back to their old stomping grounds. Judge recruited Haugh out of St. Pius IX High School and Rogers out of Campbell High School, but each athlete had other plans. Haugh earned a bachelor’s in commerce business administration from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa before enrolling in KSU’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program and competing for a fifth season of track and field. Rogers initially competed at Texas Christian University and transferred to Virginia Tech before finishing his bachelor’s in American studies at Kennesaw State.

Though Haugh came to Kennesaw State for the MPA program, the prospect of competing one more season back home under the tutelage of Judge sweetened the deal.

“It's kind of a testament to coach Mike, head coach Cale McDaniel and the program they're building,” Haugh said. “I'm a product of that. They did it once and they can do it again. I think Isaiah will prove that. So, it's cool to have paved the way, but I think there's a lot more happening with the athletes coming after me.”

Indeed, Rogers returned to KSU for his final season of college competition, one of thousands of athletes nationwide who received an extra year of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also cited the prospects of learning the finer points of throwing the hammer and indoor weight from Judge as a factor.

“More than anything, at Kennesaw State you have the belief that you can get the job done,” Rogers said. “That’s national championships, making world teams and Olympic teams—you learn how to do those things at Kennesaw State thanks to the pedigree of coach Mike and coach Cale. I’m a different guy now than I was before, and I think a lot of that is coach Mike’s doing.”

As a bonus, Rogers gets to practice every day with one of the best throwers in the world, and Haugh gets pushed every day by a rising star in the world of track and field. Rogers said Haugh’s Olympic experience expands beyond the throwing circle, too.

Though Judge expected to see both former KSU student-athletes make the U.S. team, Rogers fell just short of making the world stage this cycle. After qualifying for his second Olympic games, Haugh is looking to improve upon his Tokyo showing.

“Without all the science behind it, you have to get better to get to the point of making the Olympics, making the second day at the Olympics, and then possibly winning a medal,” Haugh said. “I wasn't ready to medal in Tokyo. I wasn't good enough. I was trying to be a top-12 guy, now I'm good enough to be a top-3 guy.”

And then, they’ll all return to Kennesaw State to continue writing history.

This article also appears in the current issue of Kennesaw State’s Summit Magazine.

– Story by Dave Shelles

Photos by Matt Yung

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.