Harris "PUTS" in Her Best Effort

In track and field some of the field events are not glamorized as much as the track events like the 100 meter dash but for senior Nikaela Harris and the Golden Valley track team shot put is just as important as any other event. Harris is definitely one of the best, if not the best shot putter to not only come through Golden Valley High School but the entire Santa Clarita Valley.  Just recently she added to her list of accomplishments by winning the the Fresno State Indoor Championship in shot put this year with a mark of 41’2”.  This past weekend she took home another first place medal but tossing the metal ball 41’3” at the Nike Invitational held at Redondo Union High School. Last season as a junior she won the Foothill league  and looks to repeat that performance again this year.

Like any other athlete that excels in a specific sport or sporting event Nikaela’s ambition to become great shot put started at a young age.

When Nikaela was nine years old she did youth track, but  only running events.  One day she  decided to wander over to shot put. “I started when my brother was doing it. In youth track he was practicing and I went over to where he was and tried it. The coach was shocked and said I need to stop doing the running and start throwing.”  Nikaela never realized that she could be good at shot-put always thinking it was her brother Diontre’s sport.  Diontre who graduated from Golden Valley in 2013 and still holds the school record for shot put at 55 feet would always give Nikaela advice and help her get better. From working out in the weight room to helping her out with her form. Diontre was big help in Nikaela’s success.

John Quam who coached Nikaela for three years saw her potential when she first came to Golden Valley. They would go to throw clinics at Shafter High School in Bakersfield where even Nikaela impressed the Arizona State throws coach. "She was always somewhat scared of the weight room, because she thought she was going to turn into a muscle bound person", says Coach Quam. Nikaela was always the younger thrower and has grown into her throws now. "She has learned that hard work is essential to becoming a great thrower. She also possess an attitude of hating to lose" says Coach Quam. Nikaela says coach Quam has helped so much and been very motivational.

 

Every track meet there is pressure for Nikaela to win so her team can earn points. Even though the event is worth just a few points it has the possibility of making a difference in the always tough Foothill League between the track team winning or losing. There are seven throwers in the group and Nikaela is the leader. Nikaela gives help to the other girls like her brother did with her. This Gives her  a big sister type role which she takes seriously.  “Being an example for the other girls is important because someone was there for me and I think I need to be there for them,” said the senior.  It’s wise for the younger throwers to listen to her because she is a defending league champion and advanced to the Masters Meet during her junior year making her the first junior from Golden Valley to make it that far.  

With a long list of accomplishments and a host of medals hanging around her neck Harris has one more goal that she fell short of last year and that’s the State Championship Meet. “I fell just short of advancing last year so I’m bound and determined to make it this year.  I don’t want anything to get in my way.”  With an air of confidence and experience from last year to build on watch for Harris to not only make it to the State Meet but to hang another medal around her neck before the day is over.

                                                                           Nikaela after winning the Fresno State Indoor Championship