What she said: “When I threw the shot put, it just felt perfect. Everything felt great. As soon as I threw it, I knew it would go really far. … The same went for the discus.”
What’s next: Steele, currently ranked third in both events in the North Coast Section, will compete at the Redwood Empire meet on Saturday at Redwood High School and — if she advances — the Meet of Champions in Berkeley the following weekend. Her ultimate goal is to make it to the CIF state meet. “Doing that would be a huge achievement and accomplishment,” she said.
Off the track: When she’s not competing, Steele studies and works out.
Trivial matter: Steele’s favorite athletes are throwers: Valerie Adams, a two-time defending Olympic shot put gold medalist and four-time world champion, and Robert Harting, the reigning Olympic discus gold-medalist and three-time world champ. “I love the way they train,” Steele said. “They’re like my idols.” During competitions, Steele makes sure to have a lucky shot put ball with her and also listens to Skrillex as warm-up music. She is the youngest of nine children, with five brothers and three sisters.
Coach Steve Deschler: “During the summer, we sent Shajana to a training camp with Olympic throwers (at Sacramento State). That really opened her eyes and made her realize how seriously she has to train. She’s just gotten so much better technically. “… I think she can be right in the battle (for a state berth). I expect her to be in the (Meet of Champions) finals.”
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