By CHRISSY SMITH
Slidell Sports Editor
SLIDELL — It’s always good to be the first.
Sarah Petty is the student-athlete from First Baptist Christian School to sign with a college to play a sport at the next level. Petty’s specialty is the javelin, which she will do at the collegiate level at the University of Southern Alabama.
“It feels really good to have all of your hard work pay off,” Petty said.
The 18-year-old played volleyball, basketball and softball. It wasn’t until her sophomore year, that track and field coach Todd Jennings asked Petty if she’d come out for the sport he coaches.
“I said, ‘You don’t have to run. Just throw things,’” Jennings said.
Petty said it didn’t take long before she knew she had something special.
“I went to my first meet and realized I was pretty good at throwing,” Petty said. “I like playing sports and throwing the football. I kept working at it and getting better at the javelin.”
Petty, along with her other teammates, won the Class C track and field state championship last year. She said she’s been watching a lot of this year’s Olympics and feels very inspired.
“I’m really excited about getting to college and being trained at a different level,” Petty said.
She will live on campus and is rooming with a pole vaulter. Petty wants to major in physical therapy and wants to work in sports someday using her degree.
“She has been concentrating on this. She’s got a good work ethic and is hard core. We’ll miss her here this year,” Jennings said.
Sarah is the daughter Leon and Edna Petty.
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