Attaining the top spot on the podium is something Newport Knights senior thrower Julia Sliwoski thinks about on a daily basis.

Sliwoski, who captured sixth place in the Class 4A state meet in the javelin with a throw of 130 feet, 4 inches as a junior in 2014, is determined to have a breakthrough season this spring. Sliwoski earned an eighth place finish at the state meet in 2013 with a toss of 122 feet as a sophomore as well.

“My ultimate goal is to win state this year. I want to be at around 150 (feet). The winner of the state meet in javelin usually throws at around 150 (feet),” Sliwoski said. “I want to make the most out of my senior year and leave my mark on the high school.”

Sliwoski fell in love with the javelin as a fourth grader in 2006.

“I started out with the Cascade Striders track club. They had one of those days where you just try all of the events. I went over and tried javelin. The javelin coach there told me I was really good. I have been doing it ever since,” she said.

Newport girls head coach Dave Davis said Sliwoski is a tireless worker who isn’t afraid to go the extra mile in pursuit of her aspirations.

“Julia is always wanting to do more. She is always the first one here and the last to leave,” Davis said.

Sliwoski believes her technique is her best attribute in her favorite event in track and field.

“I have been throwing the javelin ever since I was in the fourth grade so I have been able to build up my technique over the years. I have thrown against a lot of girls who were bigger and stronger than me but I can still throw it further than them because my technique and speed,” Sliwoski said.

Davis concurred with Sliwoski’s sentiment.

“She has been throwing for so long so there is not much to change there in terms of technique. This year we’re working a lot on improving her strength. Julia is a senior now and is much more physical than she has been before. She has gotten a lot stronger,” Davis said. “The key is that she is always trying to get better. She really wants to do this (win a state title). Every year she improves quite a bit. She has been on the podium three years in a row and every year she gets better.”

Sliwoski, who also played on the varsity basketball team the past couple of years, said she was a regular in the weight room during the off-season.

“I just wanted to build up my strength as much as I could in order to be able to throw further,” Sliwoski said. “I really like the competition aspect of javelin. I have always been one of those people who hangs around and watches the other competitors throw to see how far I need to be throwing to beat them.”

Sliwoski is a big fan of the gregarious personality Davis exhibits as the Knights head coach.

“He knows what he is talking about. He threw javelin in college. He has a lot of good tips. There are times where he will tell me about one little thing wrong that I’m doing and once I make the correction, it has helped my throws out a lot,” she said.