Cherokee High School senior Kaela Schrier can trace her success in track and field throwing events to soccer.
“My soccer coach asked me to be a thrower because my throw-ins were pretty decent,” Schrier said.
After playing softball her freshman year, Schrier dropped the sport for track and field in 2014. Since then, Schrier has become one of the best javelin throwers in the state. As of press time, she has the fourth best throw in New Jersey this season.
Schrier said playing soccer and softball prior to throwing javelin helped her pick up the motion of javelin easily. Even with that knowledge, there were a lot of finer points Schrier had to learn out of the gate.
“It was a weird movement,” she said. “It’s definitely different than soccer throw-ins. Keeping my arm back, twisting my hips, everything.”
Despite not picking up the sport until 2014, Schrier was instantly successful at the javelin. She advanced all the way to the NJSIAA Meet of Champions in her first spring season, finishing in 17th place with a throw of 119-feet, four-inches. Last year, she returned to the Meet of Champions and finished in 10th place with a throw of 126-feet, seven-inches.
Cherokee throwing coach Rob Caccamo said Schrier has been so successful because of how quickly she picked up the crucial elements of javelin throwing.
“She has a tremendous release,” Caccamo said. “She’s extremely aggressive with her plant (foot), which is something that a lot of girls have trouble with. And she comes up strong over the top with her throw.”
“She’s got a natural form,” Caccamo added. “Some of it’s from soccer. We have to give soccer some credit. She came in with that base fundamental form.”
This season, Schrier believes she can not only qualify for the Meet of Champions, but also contend for a top-five finish.
“I’ve been throwing much better than I was the past years,” Schrier said. “My early season had been awesome. I’m feeling pretty good about it this year.”
Schrier’s season best throw came at the Woodbury Relays in April. Schrier had a throw of 138-feet, eight-inches. It stood as the best throw in the state at that point of the season.
“My first throw was really bad,” Schrier said. “My second wasn’t that bad. I just thought I had nothing to lose, so I decided to give it a go.”
With the NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV sectional meet kicking off the track and field postseason on May 27 and 28, Schrier is excited. She admits she performs better in the larger meets.
“I like having good competition,” she said. “It builds me up and forces me to be on my A-game.”
“I am focusing on (a state championship),” she added. “I think I have the ability to get there. The people I have to throw against push me harder.”
Next year, Schrier will continue playing both soccer and track and field at Wagner College.
“I’m excited and nervous,” Schrier said. “It’s a lot to handle, but I think I can do it because I’ve been doing it my whole life.”
