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Destany Herbert, a senior at Northwest Nazarene University and a member of its indoor track and field team, stood atop the podium at the 2024 Indoor Track and Field Championships in Spokane. Shot put performances during the 2024 Indoor Season have netted Herbert places from second to sixth, but she won it all at the championship meet, her third in a row.
SPOKANE–Former Pirate track and field thrower Destany Herbert has made a name for herself with the Northwest Nazarene University track and field program. At the 2024 Indoor Track and Field Championships here February 19-20, the 2019 Pomeroy High School graduate bested the competition with a 13.87 m. (45-6.25) throw for her third consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) shot put championship.
Herbert won the 2023 Outdoor championship with a 14.26m (46-9.4) effort, and the 2023 Indoor championship with a 13.59m (44-7) throw. In the 2022 indoor and outdoor championships, Herbert finished second.
She is also a big part of the NNU's throwing contingent, competing in discus, javelin and hammer.
Shot put, discus and javelin marks aren't the only marks Herbert is making.
Herbert holds NNU's Women's indoor and outdoor shot put records, making a throw of 14.36m (47-1.5) at a home meet. "One of my biggest track highlights was the first time I broke the NNU school record," Herbert told the East Washingtonian. "It happened at the home meet so a lot of my friends and professors were there to cheer me on and celebrate with me." Her indoor record is 14.14m (46-4.75).
"Destany is one of the hardest workers I know," commented her Nighthawk throwing coach, Colton Burr. "She comes in every day, rain or shine, and works on getting better. Not just getting better in the ring but being a better person and better teammate every day.
"She is a leader on the team and most everyone looks up to her," Burr continued. "She has a few more seasons of eligibility and we are excited to see where her hard work takes her."
Other highlights Herbert points to have been the times NNU track meets have been in Spokane when her mom Jackie Tuma, stepdad Leroy Gomez and sister Cassie Rydeen, all of Pomeroy, could attend. "My mom and sister have been to every sporting event of mine that they are able to so when they make it to a track meet of mine it feels extra special," Herbert said.
"I think the other highlights are my teammates," Herbert said. "I've been so lucky to be on the team with so many amazing people that I might not have met otherwise. We spend so many hours together that we just have become family and I think that's my biggest highlight of my track career."
