A throw of 36 ft 11 in. won Sarah Cooley the shot put state champion title in the beginning of February.
Cooley started throwing shot put sophomore year without any previous knowledge of the event.
“I started out with javelin,” said Cooley. “But once you try one throwing event, you try all of the others.”
Despite her current success, Cooley’s start to her shot put journey was not as smooth as many would think. Her first marks were around 23 ft which is over 10 ft less than what she currently throws.
“I had a lot of trouble with this event for a long time and I could barely hit past 30 ft,” said Cooley. “Then in the off season I swam and lifted. This preparation helped my indoor season where I was able to throw 36ft.”
Every athlete has moments where they doubt their abilities, and Cooley can attest to this. Although she struggled, Cooley was determined to move past her rough patch and continued working hard.
“You just have to trust the process and trust yourself,” said Cooley.
Going into the state meet Cooley prepared mentally and physically. She worked on becoming stronger, spending a couple days a week in the weight room and improving her form. Besides the physical aspect of preparation, Cooley also spent time working on her mental toughness.
“I try to meditate and visualize a little. It’s something I’m still working on, but I do it as much as I can,” said Cooley.
The day of the meet Cooley was nervous, but she was confident in the progress she had made throughout the season.
“I had to really trust myself and all of the hard work I did,” said Cooley. I relaxed and just focused.”
Once she overcame these nerves, Cooley was determined to win the event. Throughout the season Cooley had tracked her opponents’ progression and knew who she had to beat to win.
“Knowing that I needed only a few inches to win gave me motivation,” said Cooley.
Over the course of the season, Cooley’s coach, Mark Swanson, helped her achieve her goals. Coach Swanson volunteered during the Indoor Track and Field season and his knowledge of the sport played an important role in Cooley’s success.
After winning the event Cooley was filled with joy. Her hard work and determination throughout the season helped her achieve her goals and made her a state champion.
“I never thought I would throw that far or even go as far as winning the event itself,” said Cooley. “Winning made me feel like I had finally proven myself as an athlete.”
