Injury Doesn't Faze EHS Track & Field Javelin Thrower

In the world of an individualized sport such as track, the Enumclaw High School girls track team has an outstanding leader in junior AnnaMarie Forza, who has overcome tremendous physical pain and adversity to help lead her team along with several teammates into this weekend's West Central District/Southwest District meet at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma.

Forza recently took a few moments to reflect on her journey so far this season and as a whole in the world of track and field with Patch.

Forza comes from a very athletic family, where both her parents were track stars at Enumclaw. Her sister Becky, plays on the Hornet softball; her brother Derek is on the boys track team and he will be in the District meet as well competing in the 100 meters and the 4x100 meter relay team.

AnnaMarie got her start with the javelin in the eighth grade at Enumclaw Middle School after getting tired of fastpitch.

"I threw the javelin really far in eighth grade, but at the time I also did other stuff like triple jump," Forza said.

However, after making districts as a freshman, Forza started to gain a growing confidence about her ability with the javelin.

"I went to camps over the summer, and I gained about 30 feet more with my throws," she said.

The journey in Forza's junior year has been anything but smooth as she came very close to not even making the sub-district finals due to a compressed spine issue that has been plaguing her in recent weeks.

"The way I have been working caused my back to get out of place," Forza said. "I have been going to Garfield Chiropractic in Auburn and they have been really helping me by setting up my appointments in time so I can go to meets and compete."

Forza rallied at the Sub-District meet to win the javelin with a personal best throw  of 125 feet 8 inches, taking some much needed momentum into this weekend's district meet.

"It was hurting every throw, but as I got to the end I just dealt with the pain and I got through it to Districts," she said.

The Hornets will have several athletes to go along with Forza  and she talked how important the competitive, team-oriented mindset has helped her and her teammates have so much success.

"Everyone works hard," she said. "Hannah (Calvert) in the 800 meters, Olivia (Bannerot) and Maria Blad, they have been pushing each other and breaking each other's long jump records this year."

Enumclaw Head Coach Jenelle Stussy lauded the example Forza sets for the rest of the team.

"AnnaMarie enjoys the role of leader, and may assume it spontaneously," Stussy said. "She inspires others through her actions and encourages others with her words."

Hornet throws coach Dan Schwartz on Forza's resilience and drive to excel:

"She has made real strides in dealing with the stress of things," Schwartz said. "She is a ton of fun, and a real goal-oriented kid."

With just two weeks left in the track season, Forza is very eager to finish the season strong no matter what challenges come her way to build on her 12th place finish in the 2010 meet as a sophomore.

"It's mental for me -- I just want to get a top five finish or get the extra qualifier mark for state," Forza said. "It's a very tough district with a lot of good competition."

The West Central District Meet gets underway on Friday and runs all the way through Saturday night at Mount Tahoma High School. Start Times are 10 a.m. Friday, and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.