Ramapo alum Morgan Sharer鈥檚 unexpected journey to collegiate javelin throwing
FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. — When Morgan Sharer was sidelined from long distance running in high school she tossed her talents to a different track and field event.
鈥淲hen I was a freshman and sophomore at Ramapo High School I played soccer, softball and basketball. During my junior year I switched sports and joined the cross country, winter track and spring track teams,鈥� said Sharer. 鈥淎fter all the miles I accumulated, I developed a hip injury during my spring track season. Coach Nangle suggested I become a thrower.鈥�
Sharer took his advice and during her junior and senior years of high school threw the javelin.
A javelin weighs 600 grams or 1.3 pounds.
鈥淯nlike running a race where you have one run and your time, you have multiple opportunities to improve your performance,鈥� said Sharer. 鈥淲hen competing in the throwing events you have three opportunities to get your best mark.鈥�
Morgan explains if you hit a specific standard, usually determined by the amount of people throwing, then you can qualify for finals.
鈥淭ypically it’s the top 10 throws,鈥� said Morgan. 鈥淎fter they select those going into finals based off聽of their marks, you get three additional throws, making the total to be six throws.鈥�
After high school, the 5 ft 6 inch athlete packed her skills and became thrower for the Red Dragons track and field team at SUNY-Cortland.
鈥淚 am excited that after a two year break because of the pandemic I can compete again in my senior year,鈥� said Sharer. 鈥淚n addition to throwing the javelin, I also throw the hammer.鈥�
Sharer explains the hammer is actually a metal ball attached by a steel wire to a grip. It is similar to a shot put. She stands in a throwing circle in order to spin around and launch the hammer onto a measurable field.聽 The hammer weighs about eight pounds.
Her personal best scores, as of mid-April, are 32 meters or 105 ft for the hammer and 26.5 meters or 86 ft for the javelin.
鈥淚 am never satisfied with my scores and always want to improve and do better,鈥� said Sharer.
Her routine 鈥渢o do better” consists of improving her upper body and leg strength.
鈥淲e lift weights six days a week,鈥� said Sharer. 鈥淭hat includes squats, free weights and using the bench.鈥�
Sharer says she bench presses 115 lbs, squats 225 lbs and had a dead weight lift of 245 lbs.
鈥淚 am very strong,鈥� said Sharer. 鈥淚 have defined muscles in my shoulders.鈥�
Sharer said one of the things she likes about track and field athletes is their 鈥渃lose knit community.鈥�
鈥淚 am still close with my Ramapo track and field teammates,鈥� said Sharer. 鈥淢y current聽 teammates are great and I know we will remain friends.鈥�
Sharer offers this advice to others considering competing in javelin or hammer throwing.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter what size you are it鈥檚 about getting the technique down,鈥� said Sharer. 鈥淒on鈥檛 give up if you have a bad throwing day. Just keep doing your best.鈥�
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