The Atoms shot put team has thrived this season, and throwers are recording impressive stats, including personal records, placings, and meets.
The Montgomery Invitational meet was held for some of the best throwers in the area.
Annandale players who attended included seniors Emily Shawish and Zak Belkhayat and juniors Dylan Gill, and Andy Zepada.
Shawish and Gill both threw for personal records, with distances of 32 feet, 1.75 inches and 39 feet, 8.5 inches.
The throwers have been performing extremely well and will be a tough group to go against come postseason.
Other Atoms players have had spectacular seasons, including Freshman Catherine Connell and Kennedy Beal.
Both girls rank in the top two for female freshman in the district and are very happy with their success this season.
“This season, we all put in effort and show up to practice everyday so we can get as much help as we can to get better,” freshman Catherine Connell said. “We work hard and don’t give up. It feels cool to be so highly ranked and hopefully I continue to get better and grow as an athlete.”
Another meet the Atoms competed in was at TJ Recreational Center on Jan. 3.
Four of the six girls at the meet earned personal records.
Connell threw for 23 feet, 7 inches, Beal threw for 25 feet, 9.5 inches, sophomore Sarah Baluch threw for 25 feet, .25 inches, and Shawish threw for 30 feet, 6 inches.
The boys also performed exceptional, as Belkhayat threw for 36 feet exactly.
On Dec. 28, a handful of varsity throwers were invited to the Potomac River Holiday Invite.
Gill placed second overall and Shawish placed tenth.
Overall, this has been an impressive season for the Atoms and the throwers want to enhance their skills and get personal records before the season ends.
Some of the varsity players, including Belkhayat, will advance to postseason meets, including districts.
These throwers hope to work hard in order to be successful at districts in hopes to place high enough to advance to regionals.