GODINA GETS A SHOT AT GLORY\Gold medal, world record within grasp.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Daily News Staff Writer

In 1995, John Godina became the shot-putter heard 'round the world.

Around this time last year, the then-UCLA senior was one of the United States' better throwers - both in the shot and discus - but his personal-best put of 65 feet, 8 inches didn't dazzle anyone.

Then, with astonishing swiftness, it happened.

Free of injury, and with a mature body and fine-tuned technique, everything the 23-year-old had worked toward the past decade finally - and dramatically - fell into place.

When 1995 was over, Godina had won the NCAA title with a heave of 72-2-1/4 - an improvement of 6-1/2 feet from the start of the year - and went on to win the World Championships and become a favorite to win the Olympic gold medal this summer.

"It really shocked me," said Godina, who heads the shot-put field in the L.A. Invitational Track Meet on Saturday at the Sports Arena. "I didn't expect it at all. To be honest, I was hoping just to hit 68 and then, after that, to go 70.

". . . All of a sudden it just happened and I went along with it."

Success didn't come quickly in college, where he switched from the glide technique he used during his high school career in Wyoming to a discus-style spin. A best of 65-8 going into his senior season wasn't what he had envisioned.

Particularly aggravating was his inability to beat Brent Noon, who won the NCAA title in 1992, 1993 and 1994. Godina finished second and third in '93 and '94, respectively.

"Yeah, it was frustrating somewhat," Godina said. "At the same time, there were so many injuries. I was definitely in 68-foot shape (as a junior) but I never had the opportunity to work myself into it."

The injuries. Godina had them all: wrist, hand, knees, shoulder, pectoral muscle. The painful list goes on.

And then, going into last season, they were gone. He was as healthy as he had been in years and, as a result, was able to show the world what he could do.

In his first meet, at Louisiana State, he threw 67-4-1/4 - a personal best by almost 2 feet. Then came 67-9-1/4 at the Penn Relays. Then a 69-2 at Modesto. Then a 71-4-3/4 in the Pac-10 meet.

And then the monster throw of 72-2-1/4 to win the elusive NCAA championship. It was almost 2 feet better than that of any other thrower and the first 22-meter put since 1991.

Most important to Godina, however, was the victory.

"I worked all year to beat that guy," said Godina, referring to Noon, who finished second. "I wanted to win that meet so badly.

"The guy (Noon) had won three in a row. It seemed like it was impossible."

In light of the 72-2-1/4, Godina's performance at the world championships wasn't a surprise - although it was no easy task.

In the NCAA meet, Godina injured his wrist and the pain hampered him at the U.S. Championships. He came from fourth to second - to earn one of only three berths on the U.S. team in the world meet - on his final throw (68-7).

Even with a sore elbow, he threw 70-5-1/4 at the world championships to easily beat Mika Halvari of Finland (68-8).

"For me, that was the highlight of the year - his toughness, to pull together like that (in the U.S. meet)," said UCLA throwing coach Art Venegas, who continues to work with Godina. "A wrist injury is such a difficult injury in shot-putting. He looked so beatable, he was suffering so much.

"To come through like that was phenomenal."

The faith Venegas has in Godina is boundless: He seemed sincere when he said his protege could become the "best thrower who ever lived."

The lofty praise is based on a perfect marriage of size, strength, speed, athletic ability and brains.

The speed and athleticism are most striking. Venegas swears Godina has run 40 yards in 4.75 seconds - a remarkable feat for a man his size - and believes he would excel at the NFL combine, where scouts test the physical skills of top prospects.

"(Former UCLA football star and shot-putter) Jonathan Ogden did outrageous at the Indianapolis combine" last year, Venegas said. "And I think John could beat Jonathan in any of those areas" - running, jumping, lifting, etc.

"What Jonathan has is phenomenal technique. I think even Jon would admit that John Godina has a better level of explosiveness."

Only a year into the realm of superstardom, Godina, charged with confidence, has his sights set on Randy Barnes' world record of 75-10-1/4 set in 1990, shortly before he was suspended after testing positive for steroids.

"Three months," Godina said, predicting the demise of Barnes' mark. "Eighteen months at the most."

What a difference a year can make.

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Photo UCLA's John Godina won the 1995 NCAA title with a shot put of 72-2-1/4, 6-1/2 feet more than he threw at the start of the year. Daily News File Photo