While preparing to throw a 4 kilogram ball straight into the air during the PCL Double Dual meet at Portola High on March 12, junior Abbey Reichard is skilled and confident in her ability to throw. As the ball hits the dirt, the measuring tape reads 35’ 1.75”, breaking the previous school record.

Reichard also holds the school’s discus record at 172’ 2”, which she achieved at the Tri Meet versus Esperanza High and Villa Park High on Feb. 29. Starting off her sophomore year with throwing events and unable to hit 30’ at this very meet last year, Reichard said she was extremely pleased with the results of her throws this year.

“It felt so good finally seeing all my hard work pay off,” Reichard said. “There’s shot put and disc, and shot put is definitely the most challenging, so hitting the record felt really good.”

Shot put, like any other sport, can be very mentally challenging at times, and athletes like herself understand the importance of motivation, according to Reichard. Looking up to online role models helps Reichard push herself when it gets hard.

“I want to go D1,” Reichard said. “So having the D1 throwers that I follow, and them hitting records and PRs, is my motivation to do the same.”

Reichard does her best to encourage herself and her teammates on and off the field. Uplifting her fellow athletes makes them feel supported and more confident during their events, according to teammate and junior Chrisma Agbor.

“Abbey’s very fun, always exciting,” Agbor said. “She’s always upping the environment, which makes everyone else feel excited as well. Every meet day she’s like ‘woo, let’s go,’ screaming and high-fiving everyone. We love it.”

Not only is she inspired by other throwers on social media, Reichard has her own account, @abs.throws on Instagram. She records her achievements there in hopes that it will motivate someone else, while also posting the rest of her intense training and weight lifting. Reichard uses social media with the aim of receiving the attention of colleges recruiting throwers like herself.

“I definitely want to throw in college and get a scholarship,” Reichard said. “I have all my personal throwing stuff on there, but I also have my email, so colleges can reach out to me.” 

Reichard’s teammates understand her skill and training to the point where they are not surprised she had broken the record, according to Agbor. 

“I was there when she did it, and we were not surprised,” Agbor said. “But aside from athletic ability, she’s a great person and motivates everyone. She always makes the environment fun; she makes people want to be there. I’m so proud of her.”