Highland's Jea Genet, converted softball player, making national waves in javelin
Greg Tully was doing optional workouts in the winter for the upcoming track and field season when Jea Genet first showed up. Tully, who coaches the throws events for Gilbert Highland's track and field team, admittedly had low expectations when Genet told him she was in her senior year.
He saw the softball shirt Genet was wearing and thought maybe, just maybe, there was something there that he could work with. But, he also knew of the problems softball and baseball players have with their elbows when switching to javelin.
“Within the first 15 seconds, I’m already summing up, ‘Oh, great. This is going to be a baby-sitting project and she’ll probably just injure herself anyway,'" said Tully.
Then he saw Genet throw for the first time. His tone immediately changed.
“After just a few easy standing throws, I thought, ‘Oh my goodness,’” Tully said. “When she throws, even simple throws, you can tell there’s some blend of athleticism and an ability to absorb technique.”
On her first competitive attempt in the javelin at a meet against Chandler Basha and Mesa Dobson in the second competition of the season, Genet uncorked a throw of 142 feet. That mark is currently ranked seventh in the country.
Genet herself knew right away when the throw left her hand that it was a good one.
She spent her first three years of high school playing volleyball, flag football, basketball and softball, so the athleticism is there. Genet was on the All-Arizona honorable mention team for flag football. Her dad, Rustin, played football at Show Low, winning a state championship in 1999 under coach Bill Morgan.
But javelin runs in her family – her cousin, Ethan Witcher, used to be Highland’s school record holder in the event until this season.
“He always told me I’d probably be good at it, so I decided I would pick it up,” said Genet.
Genet first touched a javelin in October, learning under Simon Ocampo, who used to coach Gabriella Garcia at Chandler Basha. Garcia is second all-time in state history for the event, at 165-6. At that October practice with some of Arizona’s other top throwers, Genet realized she might be better than she thought as she kept up with the other athletes.
Although she’s already in the top 10 in the country this early in her throwing career, Genet isn't satisfied.
“It helps me feel like I know what I’m doing since because it’s still so new,” Genet said. “That’s for sure a confidence boost. But it also makes me work harder because I’m the new kid who’s good, so I feel I have something to prove. I have to prove that I’m as good, and better than, my 142.”
Genet has already exceeded her initial season goal of 140 feet. She wants to get in the 150-foot range – a distance only five athletes have reached in state history – before the year finishes. She’s looking forward to the chance to compete against Garcia, who is trying to break the 2011 state record held by Chandler’s Hannah Carson.
Tully thinks there’s “huge upside” for Genet in the future. She’s already had some early conversations with college coaches. Tully believes she still has the chance to compete in the NCAA in the sport despite being such a latecomer.
“I think the beauty of track and field is the tape measure doesn’t lie,” said Tully.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Highland's Genet making national waves in javelin in first year
