So now that you’ve got the top mark in the nation, is there a big target on your back?
I don’t think so. I don’t think there’s a big target. But this Saturday was my first weekend I threw it (for a nation-leading distance), and I haven’t been to any other meets, so I don’t know.

Well, did you keep track of who you had been chasing? Did you know who had the previous mark?
Yeah. I’ve been competing against her since high school. To beat her was kind of ironic, with her being No. 1 and being an old rival of mine.

What was her name?
Monika … um, I don’t even want to try to say her last name. (Monika Gruszecki, a Meadowdale High School alumnus.) She goes to Western Washington University. I was at the meet when she threw 150 (feet), and I didn’t really know her, but she told me: “I feel like we’ve been neck and neck since high school. It’s finally good to be on top.” I looked at her like: “Oh, we’ve been competing since high school?”

So is it a rivalry now?
I’d say so. We throw so much with each other. From throwing with her at every meet, I’ve gotten to know her pretty well.

You won two state titles at Lake Stevens and went to nationals as a sophomore last year, but you had never thrown farther than 150 feet before. Why the big jump?
I think I’ve been really consistent over the past two years. I threw 148 feet as a high schooler. Breaking 150 was a milestone, and now that I broke it, I feel like I can keep doing it.

You finished fourth at the NCAA Division II national meet last year with a throw of 145-8. Would fourth place be a bit of a disappointment this year?
I think fourth is awesome, but I would definitely like to be in the top three. A national title is definitely within my reach; No. 1 is not out of the question. I’m getting better, so I would say even though I got fourth last year, it would be a disappointment because you’re always trying to get better.

But first and foremost, you’re a heptathlete, right?
Actually, I injured my back rather significantly last year, so I haven’t had the opportunity to compete in the heptathlon this year.

What can you tell us about the injury?
It was an overuse injury. I was training real hard, and last January I found out I tore a disc in my back and also had a herniated disc in my back. Then in the summer, I found out I tore a labrum in my hip. I think I had that injury as long as I had the back, but I didn’t know it. In the summer, when I slowed down my training and my back started to feel better, my hip started hurting. And I found out I had a torn labrum.

Ouch. What are you doing to rehab the injuries?
It’s pretty aggressive. I rehab more than anything else. I’m not even on the track very much. Last year, I competed with a back brace at the end of the year. When I took it off, it was not good. That did not turn out well for me. I don’t even think I finished a heptathlon last year. I came out of spring break and got a lifetime PR (personal record) in the high jump, but I barely could continue.

So would you say your heptathlon days are over?
I would say my heptathlon career has finished.

Why are you still able to throw a javelin?
It’s something I can do in moderation. The reason I’m seeing results now is because I’m using the meets as practices and have strategically tried to make each meet a stepping stone for my goals.

It says in your bio that you want to be a stuntwoman. What heptathlon event has best prepared you for that career goal?
Um, I don’t know. I’d have to say hurdles, just because you have to sprint and run over the hurdles and not let them trip you. Let me tell you, they will trip you.

So why do you want to be a stuntwoman?
I put that on there as a joke, more than anything. I think it’s because I’ve had so many injuries, so it was ironic. It was more a joke than anything. I really want to be a GA (graduate assistant) and get experience as a coach. That’s really what I want to do.