Giordano takes sixth at Penn Relays in discus

Photo Credits: Peter Ackerman NorthJersey.com

Giordano’s consistency makes her a major player in the discus

When Layla Giordano decided to do track in high school as a freshman, she figured it to be a side hustle that played third fiddle behind basketball and volleyball the sports she had excelled in for years and expected to continue to excel in.

She continues to excel in both sports, earning second team all-Bergen honors in volleyball and second team all-North Jersey honors in basketball this scholastic year, but she admits track may not be her favorite sport.

“It’s really grown on me,” she says. She’s certainly grown on the sport.

Giordano took sixth in the Penn Relays discus Friday with a throw of 145-4, which would have set the Bergen County record if the Old Tappan hadn’t already thrown further at three meets this season, including a 149-9 personal best at a dual meet against Demarest earlier in the week. But she wasn’t too disappointed as she medaled in her first visit to the world famous meet.

“This was really cool being around so many great competitors,” said Giordano. “I knew some of the other New Jersey girls and knew of some of the other throwers, but it was great to be part of this.”

Giordano threw a personal best of 139-6 to win the state group 3 championship last spring but had only thrown over 125 feet one other time. She came into this season wanting to focus on consistent and repeat her best marks.

“I’m still learning the technique and I’m mastering the little things I need to get better. I’m still waiting for a really big throw,” she said.

It almost came on her final attempt Friday when she sailed one way over 150 feet but just wide of the legal sector that would have not only earned her a better medal but might have gotten her a watch as the top American finisher behind three Jamaican throwers.

Paul Schwartz NorthJersey.com

Source Link: https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/high-school/track/2023/04/29/penn-relays-2023-bergen-catholic-nj-relays-wins-day-2/70152879007/

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