Good things come to those who wait.
South Beauregard's Trinity Spooner had high hopes going into last year's junior season. The javelin thrower from Longville, who signed with LSU in the Fall, wanted to hit 165 feet. She didn't come close to the mark until the last throw of her last meet--the NSAF Outdoor National Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
All is well that ends well. Her winning throw of 162-0 won Spooner a national championship.
"My take away from last season was the beginning of the season does not determine your outcome through the entire season," Spooner said. "I can't lie, last year I had a pretty negative outlook for nationals, I didn't think I was going to throw well since I hadn't achieved my goals almost the entire season. I never imagined I would come out on top, but I really needed that moment as an athlete."
After last Friday's Merchant Farmer's Bank Barbe Buc Relays, Spooner's senior season looks more promising. Her throw of 150-6 has her at No. 2 in the nation, only two feet behind US leader--Alabama's Aspen Arrowsmith.
More impressive than her throw last week, it seems Spooner has found the consistency with her technique which was lacking in 2022. In her outdoor opener, Spooner had a best effort of 149-8 to win the DeRidder Dragon Relays.
"In practice, I have been working on using my lower half in my throws," Spooner said.
The hard work is paying off and has Spooner excited about finishing her high school career strong before joining the LSU Track and Field program.
As far as particular meets, Spooner is excited about the Texas Relays.
"It will be a dream to compete there since I have never been there before," Spooner said. "the thought of knowing that I will be competing there next year, but as a collegiate athlete seems incredible."
Another LSU signee-Alexandria's Alexis Guillory-came up just short of a win in the girls javelin at her home meet. Guillory's best at the Trojan Relays was 132-7. While the mark was better than the 127-8 she threw in her season opener to win the Pineville Rebel Relays, it was not good enough to beat sophomore Kaylen Rabalais (138-2).
Only one other sophomore in the nation has thrown the javelin farther than Rabalais.
After the first two weeks of the outdoor season, there are two Louisiana juniors in the top 10 in the nation. Church Point's Macy Dailey is ranked No. 7 in the nation among juniors with a throw of 127-3. Her best throw of the season came during week one of the season at the Cecilia Bulldog Relays.
Mt. Carmel's Sophie Junius won the Brothers of Sacred Heart Invite at Catholic last Saturday with a throw of 116-6. Junius' best throw of the season--119-6--came in week No. 1 . She ranks No. 10 in the nation in the class of 2024.
Sterlington freshman Ana Robinson has been impressive during the first two weeks of her high school career. She was just outside the Top in the nation after her second place performance (100-2) performance at the Cedar Creek Relays during week one.
Last week, Robinson picked up the first win of her high school career with a throw of 105-1 at Neville's Van Leigh Relays. The throw moves Robinson to No. 9 in the nation among freshmen girls.