TRIUMPH OVER TRAGEDY USC'S BRYANT IS COMPETING AGAIN AFTER HORRIFIC ACCIDENT.Byline: MATTHEW KREDELL Staff Writer Each time Noah Bryant washes his face is a reminder. He looks in the mirror and everything seems perfectly normal. Then he runs his hand over his right cheek and feels the metal and plastic pieces that now make up much of the right side of his face. ``It can feel kind of nasty,'' Bryant said. But it's the only lasting effect of one of the most frightening accidents in area track and field history, and for that he's grateful. Fourteen months after he was struck by a hammer he threw, shattering multiple bones beneath his right eye, the USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. thrower is performing better than ever. He's back at the NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships beginning today in Sacramento. ``I worked hard before, but I'd say this year is the hardest I've ever worked for anything in my life,'' Bryant said. ``Some of it is that I feel lucky that I didn't die. I'm a little more motivated to do everything right.'' On April 2 of last year, Bryant competed in a track meet at Cal State Northridge. To protect other athletes and spectators, facilities have a netting or loose chain-link cage behind and above competitors. The chain-link fencing fencing, sport of dueling with foil, épée, and saber. Modern Fencing The weapons and rules of modern fencing evolved from combat weapons and their usage. at CSUN CSUN California State University Northridge was wrought too tightly. When Bryant spun and released, the errant er·rant adj. 1. Roving, especially in search of adventure: knights errant. 2. Straying from the proper course or standards: errant youngsters. 3. throw hit the cage and ricocheted straight down. Bryant threw his hand up and slightly shifted the direction of his head. It was all he could do with a 16-pound steel ball quickly plummeting toward his face. It was enough to protect his eyesight eye·sight n. 1. The faculty of sight; vision. 2. Range of vision; view. and his life. A few inches over or without his hand taking part of the blow and it could have been a different story. ``(Bryant) is lucky he's alive (Italian: “power”) In medieval Italian communes, the highest judicial and military magistrate. The office was instituted by Frederick I Barbarossa in an attempt to govern rebellious Lombard cities. told the Daily News last year. ``He could've had massive head trauma and been left totally disabled.'' On impact, the then-310 pounder crumbled crum·ble v. crum·bled, crum·bling, crum·bles v.tr. To break into small fragments or particles. v.intr. 1. To fall into small fragments or particles; disintegrate. to the ground. His father, Dan, a college thrower himself at one time, was videotaping nearby when the accident occurred. He dropped the camera, breaking it, and was the first one on the scene. His mother, Susan, wasn't far behind. They were encouraged that Noah never lost consciousness. He knew who he was and where he was. ``His face was sort of caved in, but there was a huge amount of swelling that made it look like it wasn't,'' Dan Bryant said. ``It didn't look so bad at first, but it was. His cheekbone cheek·bone n. See zygomatic bone. was like an egg shell -- shattered shat·ter v. shat·tered, shat·ter·ing, shat·ters v.tr. 1. To cause to break or burst suddenly into pieces, as with a violent blow. 2. a. .'' Noah underwent surgery for more than two hours. He had terrible headaches for a few weeks. He has some small scars only visible upon close inspection. At that point, he told his parents that he wasn't sure if he'd ever want to throw again. That was fine with them. But, after a few months, he started talking about competing. He missed the rest of 2005, taking a medical redshirt red·shirt tr.v. red·shirt·ed, red·shirt·ing, red·shirts To keep (a college or school athlete) out of varsity competition for one year in order to extend the athlete's period of eligibility. , but soon began training for this season. His first practices were a little awkward. Then he managed to put the incident out of his mind and move on. ``I think my parents were more nervous than I was,'' Bryant said. ``It was a freak accident, so I wasn't really worried about it happening again. If I saw another cage not set up right, I probably wouldn't throw it.'' CSUN updated its cage to a more modern netting. Bryant trained all summer, watched what he ate for the first time and dropped 35pounds. ``I think he got a glimpse of this being taken away from him, the throwing,'' USC throw coach Dan Lange said. ``He came back with a level of focus and discipline far beyond what he had before the accident.'' Bryant has done so well this season that it appears as if the months missed because of the injury didn't hinder his progression at all. He improved his hammer distance from 194 feet, 10inches to 203-5 and his shot put from 62-5 to 64-61/2. The shot put, always his best event, is the one he will compete in at the NCAA Championships. He enters the competition ranked eighth in the nation. He placed 12th as a sophomore. That Bryant is back competing at an elite level is more than anyone expected. ``For everyone who ever said `Fight on,' '' USC coach Ron Allice said of the Trojans' athletic motto, ``It fits him to a `T.' '' matthew.kredell@dailynews.com (818) 713-3607 CAPTION(S): photo, 2 boxes Photo: (color) Fourteen months after he suffered facial injuries facial injuries, n.pl trauma to the face and its associated structures, most frequently from traffic accidents, contact sports, and domestic conflicts. after being struck by a hammer he threw, USC thrower Noah Bryant will compete in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, beginning today in Sacramento. Photo courtesy of USC Box: (1) NCAA TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS (2) PARTICIPANTS |
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