Aside from being the top freshman shot putter and discus thrower in the country, Rio Americano freshman Sidney Johnson has another reason to love being a field athlete on the school’s track team: She doesn’t have to run.

Johnson earlier this year set personal records of 39 ft., 11 in. for shot put and 124 ft., 2 in. for discus, putting her at the top of national rankings. She wants to hit 45 ft. for shot put and 135 ft. for discus by the end of the season.

“I would definitely say I like discus more just because it’s a lot more relaxed and it goes a little bit farther,” she said.

She has also attended the Junior Olympics two years in a row, with a third invite in her sights.

A team captain at Rio, her success hasn’t come without a significant time commitment. She has only missed a few practices in the last three years of daily training. She has a personal trainer to help with stretching, recovery and weight lifting exercises.

But her path was paved by a family connection, too. Her love for the sport was partly inspired by her father, Travis Johnson, who is the track coach for Rio.

“I started throwing because my dad had thrown when he was my age and believed that I would be really good at it,” she said. 

According to Johnson, her father’s role doesn’t affect her performance as she can differentiate between coach and dad.

“There always has to be balance, but we found a really good way to work through that and balance our track and home life,” she said.

While Johnson competes as a standout member of Rio’s track team, she also participates in club events for the Rancho Cordova Track Club.

“Club competitions are with people from all over the state, and it’s really fun to see people you don’t usually see during the high school season,” she said.

She said she sees both as opportunities to apply her rigorous training and compete against other talented athletes, gaining valuable experience along the way.

With a demanding training schedule, there are times Johnson wishes she had more time for other pursuits.

“Sometimes I wish I had more time to hang out with my friends and try out other things, but I know that it’s worth the trade-off to be at such a high level,” she said.

When she’s not in the throwing circle, Johnson is pursuing one of her other interests—swimming, cooking or volunteering.

“I love volunteering with young kids and teaching them how to play sports or do other activities,” she said.

Her involvement with the track club has given her the chance to mentor and connect with young athletes.

“They make me laugh every time I see them,” she said. “They share their stories with me, I hear it all. They are the most honest people you will ever meet.”

Her goal is to play at the collegiate level, with the University of Alabama, University of Texas, BYU and LSU among her dream schools. Recruiters have already approached her, she said.

“My ultimate goal is to throw in college on a scholarship, then go to law school and become a lobbyist,” she said.

Johnson’s journey in discus and shot put is a testament to her passion and dedication, which have paid off. As she continues to refine her skills and work towards her collegiate aspirations, one thing remains certain—her love for the sport and her determination to succeed will continue to propel her forward.

“I’m never really scared of anybody. It’s a really fun environment,” she said. “And you don’t have to run.”