COThe everyday pressure of school and other activities can cause incredible stress on a teenager. That is why junior Nataly Vardanyan has decided to dedicate her free time to track and field. The sport itself is an intriguing combination of three core athletic challenges: jumping, running and throwing. Vardanyan’s field of expertise is in throwing and jumping, in particular at throwing the shot put and discus. She also practices triple jumping.

Since 8th grade, Vardanyan has been into sports. “I got third place in [Roosevelt] Middle School’s track meet,” she said. “Then my coach encouraged me to join an actual track and field team.” And indeed she was pointed in the right direction. She recently participated in the Pacific League Championship, coming in third place in shot put and fifth place in discus. In fact, she holds the fifth place in discus throwing in the alltime record of Glendale High School.

On May 25 and 26, Vardanyan and her team participated a contest called Nitro Warriors. The contest itself is inspired by the famous TV show Ninja Warrior. It was practically a challenge run, where every participant has to go through a set of challenges, including high jump, mountain climb, carrying a  shot put, running in zig-zags around cones, among other athletic activities. “It was a very awesome activity,” Vardanyan said. “I was very excited to participate in it.”

For now, Nataly’s sport season has ended, and she will resume it next season. By next year, she will be the only member of her team to be a member of varsity for four years. She is determined to pursue her interest in track and field for a long time. “It is very relaxing. It keeps me in shape and lets me get my anger out,” she said. “That’s why I am almost never angry.”