Current Westfield Blue Devil Coach and former Crusader shot-put record holder Marjana Banic poses with Rachael Johnson, who recently broke the school’s 18 year old girls’ shot-put record with a throw of 40’ 5 ½
Rachael Johnson recently broke an 18 year old Arthur L. Johnson High School record in the shot-put.
The record was formerly held by Marjana Banic in 1997 with a throw of 39’ 11 ½”. Ironically, Coach Banic, a former Crusader Throws coach and current Coach for the Westfield Blue Devils, was at the County Meet when it was broken. “Records are meant to be broken,” said Banic, who also own the discus record at Johnson High School. “The torch has been handed over. The scary thing is, with all of Rachael’s ability and a great coaching staff in Coach Anthony DelConte and Coach Christopher DiNucci, the sky is the limit for Rachael as she is only a Junior and has an entire year left to improve.”
The Junior thrower let the record setting throw fly on her third throw of the meet prior to finals.
Coach Anthony DelConte had the following to say about the record setting thrower: “Racheal really bought into the field events this winter season and is one of our hardest workers. She has all the characteristics of a great athlete and young adult, and she fits right into the great group of athletes that we have at Arthur L. Johnson High School. She had her mind set that she wanted to leave her mark on the program, which she did, yet she still strives to do more. I am extremely happy for her, and am excited to see what her future at ALJ holds.”
