Koppelman improves at States

Junior Emily Koppelman participated in the Winter Track and Field State Competition, competing in girls’ shot put event. The event took place at George Mason University February 29th and March 1st. Koppelman moved up three places, finishing 16th after being seeded 19th. She was the only Annandale High School athlete for Winter Track and Field.

Although her performance at states was not her best this year, Koppelman still believes she had a solid year.

“I feel like I had a good season, [although] there was not much improvement,” said Koppelman. Her only improvement came in her finishing at states. She finished 16th this year but finished 19th last year. Koppelman, this year, went into states seeded with a season best distance of 34 feet 4 inches, but threw the shot put 33 feet 4.75 inches when her event came up. Also, her personal best throw occurred last year, when she threw for a distance of 34 feet 9 inches.

Overall, Koppelman has worked hard on her shot put event, working with the four kilogram shot put during winter and spring track under Coach Bob Sykes. On top of school sports, she throws on her own at home, has participated in a camp at the University of Virginia, and has worked with the coach at the Virginia Military Institute.

Koppelman is looking forward to shot put in spring track and in her senior year.