Lily Novacek learned to love throwing – now she’s a UNK record holder

KEARNEY – Lily Novacek never wanted to be a thrower.

Growing up, the University of Nebraska at Kearney student-athlete focused on sports like basketball, volleyball, soccer and tennis. Track and field was simply a way to stay in shape for those activities.

“Throwing doesn’t really have that ‘cool girl’ rep,” Novacek said with a smile. “It’s usually something kids do if they don’t want to run. And that was not me.”

At Horizon Middle School, Novacek enjoyed competing in the 200-meter dash and high jump – events where she could showcase her speed and athleticism. She blames – and thanks – former middle school coach and current UNK volunteer assistant Tim Hedges for forcing her to give the shot put a try.

“It just happened that I was naturally good at it,” said Novacek, who set the Horizon school record during her first year participating in the event.

A three-sport athlete at Kearney High School, Novacek continued to compete in the shot put while also playing volleyball and basketball. She finished third in Class A at the State Track and Field Championships as a sophomore, but still didn’t see a future in the event beyond high school.

In fact, she was actually recruited by UNK volleyball coach Rick Squiers, who announced her commitment in November 2020.

“That’s the only reason why I’m still doing track, to be completely honest,” said Novacek, a 6-foot middle blocker who led the Bearcats in kills and blocks during her senior season.

After she signed with the Loper volleyball program, UNK assistant track coach Dane Tobey reconnected with the local standout, hoping she’d be interested in both sports at the college level.

Novacek set the Kearney High record in the shot put the following spring (44 feet, 2 1/4 inches) and added the discus to her repertoire. She won a Class A state championship in both events as a senior.

“As I learned more and more about throwing, I figured out that my perspective was totally wrong,” she said. “If you look at the Olympic throwers, they are extremely fast, explosive and strong. They’re the complete opposite of what I thought a thrower was as an eighth grader.”

Novacek spent one season on the UNK volleyball team before transitioning to track and field full time.

“Competing in two sports is incredibly hard in college. Praise anyone who ever does it for four years,” she said. “I think I just had to sit down and really decide what goals I had for college athletics and where I would be able to reach them.”

REACHING HER POTENTIAL

One of the best track and field athletes in UNK history, Tobey knows what it takes to be a top thrower at the Division II level.

The eight-time All-American and former Division II Male Field Athlete of the Year immediately recognized Novacek’s potential.

“She’s a multisport athlete who is very good on her feet,” Tobey said. “When you have an athletic individual and then you pair that with her height and length, there are a lot of possibilities. I think her overall athleticism is what separates her from a lot of other throwers in the country.”

The first time Tobey saw her throw the weight and hammer – two events that aren’t part of high school track and field in Nebraska – he knew she could be special.

“I think she also realized what her ceiling potentially could be in track and field and just grasped onto that,” Tobey said.

Although she loved team sports, Novacek embraced the individual aspect of track and field. Since she competes in multiple events, there are more opportunities to prove herself as an athlete.

“I like being able to go to a meet, step in the ring, and if I do good or bad, it is only on me,” she said. “My coach can’t get out there and throw it for me. If I get second place, I can’t control what the other person did. It’s not like basketball, I’m not guarding her, or volleyball where I’m blocking her.

“You have one minute to throw, and what you do in that ring is completely controlled by one person.”

ALL-TIME GREAT

After redshirting during her first year on campus, Novacek started her UNK career with a goal of reaching the NCAA Division II Championships.

She quickly accomplished that feat, qualifying in both the hammer and discus during the 2023 outdoor season. Novacek placed 13th and 16th, respectively, at nationals and earned All-Region honors.

The following year, she returned to the Division II Outdoor Championships as a qualifier in the hammer and finished 15th overall. Once again, she was recognized with All-Region honors.

In addition to her physical skills and work ethic, Tobey has seen growth in her mental approach as Novacek learns more and more about each throwing event.

“That maturity level and her understanding of the sport are increasing along with her distances,” he said. “When you have an athlete who’s maturing both physically and mentally, the sky is really the limit.”

Now a redshirt junior, Novacek is a “leader by example” for the UNK track and field team. “When she’s in the ring at practice, people are watching,” Tobey noted.

The same is true at meets.

During the recent indoor season, Novacek set the school record in the weight throw, then beat her own mark two times. Her career-best toss of 64-10 1/2 easily qualified her for the Division II Championships in Indianapolis, where she earned First Team All-American honors by finishing eighth.

Novacek also ranks third in UNK history in the discus (160-5) and 10th in the indoor shot put (46-6 3/4).

She kicked off the current outdoor season by breaking a 25-year-old program record in the hammer throw during last month’s Central Nebraska Challenge at Kearney High School. That toss (209-8) is the farthest in Division II this season.

“I believe she’s the best hammer thrower in Division II,” Tobey said. “Now, you have to respond over and over again and make sure that what I just said is true. You have to go out there and back it up. But I truly believe she’s the best hammer thrower in Division II. I think she has a chance at winning a national championship this year.”

Beyond this season, Novacek plans to return for her final year of eligibility while pursuing a nursing degree at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Kearney.

Tobey believes she can be an “all-time great” at UNK, joining other elite throwers such as Jill Stenwall, Beth Stuart, Janet Boettcher, Shauna Birchard and Tiara Schmidt.

“When her career is said and done, I think she’ll be on the Mount Rushmore for women’s track and field athletes at UNK,” Tobey said.