Kentwood’s Toeaina signs on with Huskies | Track and field

By TJ MARTINELL
Covington Reporter Reporter
June 19, 2012 · Updated 5:04 PM

Recent Kentwood graduate Alyx Toeaina has signed on with the University of Washington to throw for the Huskies track and field team.

Toeaina, who lives next to Kentwood, stated that she signed with the university for a partial scholarship the first week into the track season.

“I wanted to get it out of the way so I wouldn’t have to worry about it during the season,” she said. “I wanted to stay closer to home.”

Toeaina finished her final track season as a Conqueror with two silver medals at the state championship in discus and shotput, throwing distances of 130 feet, nine inches and 43 feet, 03.5 inches respectively. As a junior she took first place at state in the discus with a throw of 136-03.

Toeaina started out freshman year in 2009 with a 12th place at state in the shotput and ninth at districts. With a natural talent to throw, Toaeina said she improved due to the intense competition she had at the various invitationals she was able to go to.

“It built up my competitiveness,” she said. “I was up against people who were better than me.”

Her sophomore year Toeaina made large gains, taking fifth at state in the shotput and qualifying for state in the discus, where she ultimately placed fourth. Her junior year, she secured third at state in the shotput and the gold medal in discus.

Much like the Conks girls team, which place third this year after taking the state title in 2011, Toeaina said she struggled to repeat the same level of success.

“It wasn’t as good as last year,” she said. “In discus I was all over the place. I wasn’t as consistent (as shotput).”

In addition to track, she was also able to use her explosive power on the court with the Conks volleyball team, which took second at state in November.

With a summer training program already in place, Toeaina hopes to build on her throwing talent during her time as a Husky. At the moment, she said she is considering studying either psychology or business, but has no definite career ideas yet.

“I’m just continuing my track career and see where that leads,” she said.

Toeaina also has a younger sister, Sarah, who will be a junior in the fall. Sarah Toeaina qualified for state in several running and hurdling events in addition to her roles on Kentwood’s volleyball and girls basketball squads.