Anderson thrower Jada Navarro: It's not how strong you are, but how well you throw it

All about Jada: Curly-haired thrower bound for Houston

Tell something about you that most people don't know?

I have naturally curly hair. Usually I brush it out in the morning or put a product in it to just make it a little curly.

What do you plan to do after high school?

I plan on attending the University of Houston and would like to try to walk on the track team.

What has been your favorite vacation?

I would say probably this church beach camp in June 2022. I knew some friends named Zuzu and Cove who were going, and they invited me to go with them. We took a charter bus to Panama City Beach, Fla. And we would do all these activities like scavenger hunt, beach time, assassins and more.

What course that you have taken in school will benefit you the most after you graduate?

Sociology has been the most beneficial course. In college I'll be majoring in psychology.

More: 25 local baseball players who make a difference

When it comes to throwing, it's all about technique

In the discus and shot put, what is more important: strength or technique?

Technique — 100%. Strength can only take you so far when you're throwing, but technique is the glue into being successful, and no matter how hard it is, it really takes you far in the long run.

How did you get interested in the discus and shot put?

At first I was iffy about it because our middle school never had a ring or anything and never focused on shot put and discus. Until my eighth-grade year, my mom, who worked at Anderson, talked to the (former) discus coach about getting me in the morning practices. So I started doing that, and that’s just when I really fell in love with the sport.

What has been your favorite track and field memory in high school?

My favorite memory would have to be this year's area meet. I just had so much fun and finally advanced to regionals. I was around my old coaches again and just had fun with it while still competing.

How do you motivate yourself to train on days you just don't feel like it?

What motivates me is just thinking about my future. It's an easy way to make friends in college while still doing something I love. And how amazing it would be to throw in college.

Do you have any pre-meet rituals?

I have to have an energy drink because we always throw in the morning, and I have recently started listening to music on the times I’m not throwing.

Dream dinner: Two divas, but who gets top billing?

If you could have dinner with any four people in the history of the world, who would they be?

I would choose Paul Walker, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna and Dylan O'Brien.

Why did you pick Paul Walker?

I picked Paul because I just think he was such a cool dude and a cutie. I just always wanted to meet him and never got a chance to.

Some of our other Faces off the field

Other Austin-area track and field athletes we've interviewed: Elgins' Kailyn Cook, Westlake's Judson Crockett, Dripping Springs' Lucy Fredenburg and Vista Ridge's Emma Wade