MORAN — If Marmaton Valley High’s Brayden Lawson hasn’t mastered the javelin just yet, he’s not far from it.
The sophomore Wildcat was named March’s Athlete of the Month. Lawson visited with the Register about his success on the field.
Has there been a big jump for you from freshman year to this year on track?
It’s been quite a jump. I’ve been throwing it about 15 feet farther consistently. Bryce (Ensminger) has been helping me throw it farther.
What do you think is most beneficial about track and field?
I think this helps with football and all sports. It keeps me in better shape. I enjoy the javelin a lot and I think it’s something I’m decent at.
What is important to remember when throwing the javelin?
It takes a lot of form and technique. In the shot put, you can rely on strength more but this takes skill to get it to fly right. You’ll see a lot of smaller kids throw it farther because they have good technique. Some stronger kids don’t always throw it as far.
Marmaton Valley boys placed first as a team in Uniontown. Your thoughts?
I think we just came together and competed. Everybody placed and did well in their events.
How important has coach Steve Smith been in improving the team?
He’s always there pushing everybody. He mainly coaches high jump and distance and we have another coach for throwing. He (Byron Marshall) plays a big role in pushing everybody and making sure we do better.
What are your feelings on your performance so far this year?
I’m proud of what I’ve done this year. (His most recent throw was 136 feet.) I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better. By the end of the season I’d like to be throwing around 150 feet.
