A subtle shift between the feet. Grounded, controlled, step by step, the circle shrinks beneath them.
Then the turn. One rotation becomes two, then three — the weight trailing behind before rising, faster each time. Steel and momentum build in sync until everything snaps forward at once.
And then release.
For a moment, time freezes. Practice repetitions become something more: a throw that could rewrite records.
That’s been the experience for junior Elon thrower Adriana Clarke. During the indoor Coastal Athletic Association championships, Clarke delivered a record-breaking performance. It was one she didn’t fully process until it was already over.
“I just remember letting go, and I was super excited,” Clarke said. “Then when the numbers popped up on the board, I remember saying, ‘Oh my God, oh my God,’ and I started bawling. It was so hard to lock in.”
Clarke’s throw of 20.04 meters broke her own school record, good for first place at the meet. It was the second time she’s usurped the school record this year.
But for Elon’s throwing team, success in the circle is rarely a solo moment. Instead, it’s shared — built through a mix of competition, trust and a partnership that has fueled the program’s rise in the field events.
Before Clarke’s throw secured the top spot, sophomore thrower Isabella Johnson had briefly taken the lead with a personal-best throw of her own. The two teammates went back and forth before finishing first and second.
“It was probably the best competition of my life,” Johnson said. “We both walked out of there feeling like it was a victory.”
Throwing is technically an individual sport. Yet, neither Clarke nor Johnson approach it that way.
Different paths, same destination
Johnson’s journey to throwing started unexpectedly.
The Alabama native originally joined her middle school track team as a runner, but her coach encouraged her to try throwing. By her second meet, she had already won an event.
Sophomore Isabella Johnson winds up to throw at practice on April 7.
Johnson said her motivations shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic when her middle school track coach died.
“I wanted to make him proud. I could feel that he was watching me,” Johnson said. “I was really throwing for him, and I fell in love with the sport.”
Johnson’s father would draw her coach’s initials on her arm before every competition as a reminder she carried when moments grew tense. That year, she won her first of four Alabama state championships, which she credited to her team and consistent practice.
Clarke’s path looked different. The Florida native started throwing in seventh grade but said she didn’t take the sport seriously until her junior year of high school, when she missed state regionals by three meters.
“That was the biggest heartbreak I’ve ever had,” Clarke said. “Instead of just mourning that, I decided I didn’t want to feel that way again. It pushed me to grind and put in that effort throughout that summer.”
That summer, Clarke worked from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., then drove an hour to practice throwing from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. before heading home and repeating the routine the next day.
The work paid off. She went from missing regionals to finishing second in the state, ultimately earning her opportunity at Elon.
A dynamic duo
Since arriving at Elon, the teammates’ relationship has extended far beyond the throwing circle. Johnson often refers to them as the “dynamic duo” — a nickname reflecting their close bond.
Clarke and Johnson always room together at overnight competitions, encouraging each other through every phase of preparation.
“That’s a bond most teammates don’t have,” Johnson said. “I feel like sometimes roommates don’t even talk.”
Their personalities differ. Clarke admits she can be overly hard on herself, while Johnson brings consistent optimism. But that contrast has only strengthened their connection.
Clarke describes Johnson as a source of energy that lifts those around her.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the girl frown,” Clarke said. “Even when she’s mad, she’s grinning ear to ear.”
That camaraderie has become essential in managing the mental demands of the sport. Despite their physical strength and technical development, both say success ultimately comes down to mindset.
“It’s a battle between me and my mind,” Clarke said. “Physically, I can do it. But mentally, it’s about believing that I can.”
That shared understanding has helped both athletes continue to improve, regularly setting personal records and pushing each other in practice and competition.
Johnson said her role on the team is to send out an inspirational quote every Sunday, reminding teammates of their shared drive. She calls it “Somebody Sundays.”
Her favorite comes from American runner Steve Prefontaine’s training for the 1972 Summer Olympics:
“No matter how hard you train, somebody will train harder. No matter how hard you run, somebody will run harder. No matter how much you want it, somebody will want it more. I am somebody.”
Those close to Johnson now call her “Somebody.” She hopes to remind her teammates, including Clarke, that they are, too.
Looking ahead
As the outdoor season continues, the duo remains focused on growth, both individually and together.
Johnson is aiming to qualify for NCAA regionals in both discus and hammer throw.
Clarke is looking to defend her first-place finish in the hammer throw at the 2025 CAA Outdoor Championships. She has also set a personal goal of reaching 58 meters, a mark that would break her own school record.
Together, they are chasing a larger goal: helping Elon secure a “triple crown” by winning the CAA cross country, indoor and outdoor track championships — with the outdoor meet set to be hosted at Elon.