For the past four years, senior Karl Sanft has been one of the driving forces of the boys’ track and field team. Currently ranked third in the state in shot put and seventh in discus, Sanft has helped score valuable points in every meet he’s competed in since joining the team as a freshman. To his peers on the team, Sanft is both a leader and a teacher, serving as a team captain and helping throwing coach Laval Short teach the newer throwers.

“Obviously I want to become the best in state,” said Sanft, whose throw of 52 feet 11.25 inches in the shot put against Aloha on April 16, a personal record, propelled him to his current ranking. “It’s gonna take a lot of hard work on my part to get me there though.” Sanft has excelled in discus over the years as well, breaking another personal record in the Aloha meet when he threw 154 feet 10 inches.

Sanft, known colloquially amongst the other throwers as “The Big Kahuna,” has been throwing ever since the 7th grade. While he was attending Parkrose Middle School, Sanft was encouraged by his football coach at the time to try throwing the shot put. “I tried throwing for the first time it turned out I really liked it,” said Sanft about his first track practice, “and I was good at it, too.”

Sanft’s advice to would-be throwers? “Just remember the three most important things in throwing: hard work, effort, and protein.”

Sanft’s scores and records can be viewed on his profile at Athletic.net:

http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/Athlete.aspx?AID=2978628