MIDLAND, Texas — Midland Legacy thrower Bolaji Subair claimed the UIL 6A Discus state championship over the weekend with a final throw of 157’10”. This accomplishment didn't come easy. The senior fought through a handful of violations to propel herself from ninth place to state champ.
NewsWest 9 caught up with the recent state champion about her experience at the state meet and landing at the top of the podium.
Jenna: "You are a state champion at the 6A level. That's really exciting. Can you walk me through...I just heard from coach about all the ups and downs of the day and of the meet, but can you walk me through from your point of view?"
Bolaji: "Of the day or of the meet?"
Jenna: Um, I'd say the day. Let's do the day."
Bolaji: "The day, I woke up. I was pretty tired. I was a little nervous, but it was a good nervous because I knew I was gonna compete well. We started off with shotput. I threw my best in feet, but I still places sixth which was really sad, but I knew I couldn't crash because I still had discus a few hours later. Then discus came around and I felt great. I knew I was gonna do great. I saw everyone else's throw. I thought it was gonna be easy. It was gonna be an easy win. We start off with the first throw, and it's a scratch, but it's a good throw, so I'm still very confident. Second throw, I scratch again. That's not very surprising for me, so I'm still good. The third throw I have to toss the disc just to qualify for finals. We don't take any risks. Final comes around, I scratch my first two throws. I throw into the pole which is very alarming for me cause it's not something I was doing the entire day. Then, my third throw came around, and I was a little nervous, but I was also very confident in my training and with my coaches. I knew I know how to throw a disc and it only takes one. I only needed just one. Then, that's how it happened."
Jenna: "So I saw a video of disc, it was veering right and then you snuck it in. What was your reaction in that moment. You know seeing it go one way, but it ends up being a positive result for ya."
Bolaji: So whenever I let go of the disc, cause I was already throwing right, I let go of the disc, it was going out, and I was like, 'Oh my goodness. I can't do anything now.' I saw it going out and at the last moment it went in. I was very relieved, and also there was no wind, so I was really just thanking God. I was talking to God the whole time like, 'Oh my goodness. This is actually crazy.' Then I walked out the ring immediately, so there was no scratches, no nothing. I was secured."
Jenna: "How did it be to be up on the podium at the top spot?"
Bolaji: "I felt very grateful. I also felt relieved because I knew I could do it. It's a goal I had since the very beginning of the year, so I felt relieved and I also felt like, "Wow, this is really here. It's really happened. This is what we wanted for so long. Now it's finally here.'"
Jenna: "What does some of that training look like to get you to this point?"
Bolaji: "A lot of rotations. Tons and tons of rotating. High quantity of throwing. We throw a lot, especially on Mondays. We lift in weight room. Also, I keep my carbs up and I eat a lot throughout the week."
Jenna: "You're a senior, right?"
Bolaji: "Yes."
Jenna: "When you look back on your Legacy track career, this is obviously a highlight, what are some of things that you think about when you're looking back on it? I know it's only been a weekend since it's been over, but how have you looked back on it so far?"
Bolaji: Well, I actually started at Midland High, and track was always my second sport. My first sport was basketball. It's my love. Then, I moved to Legacy. I started off playing basketball. Then, I didn't really... I didn't have a great season at Midland High, so I was honestly going to quit, and then I caught up with Coach Mal [Maldonado] one day in the neighborhood, and he kind of just changed my mindset. Then, I came to practice, and it kind of just went from there, but throughout the seasons here, I didn't think I would come this far. It's not even something I had planned. I thought I was gonna end up going to school here and living here until I graduated college, but this has really opening a lot of doors for me."
Jenna: "How did you get introduced to throwing?"
Bolaji: "I started in junior high. I was always tall and I was always bigger, so I guess bigger means you throw, so that's how it kind of went."
Jenna: What do you think you'll take from that experience? Not just tangibly, while you're throwing, but life lesson wise. What do you think you're going to take because it was... you can take it as a metaphor to keep trying, but what are you doing to take from it?"
Bolaji: "I'm always going to keep in mind that nothing's over until it's actually over, and it's always a good thing to keep going and keep being confident and keep trying and hold my head up. Don't fall before it's over because it wasn't over. I still had an opportunity, and I think there was a moment where I wanted to just quit because I felt a lot of pressure, but I knew it's not over til it's over. I still have one more throw. I still have two more throws cause I scratched. I kept scratching. I still have three more throws and that's what I kept in mind."
Jenna: "What did it mean to have your coaches along there with ya as you accomplish this feat?"
Bolaji: "To have my coaches there meant that I had support and someone I knew there. Some familiarity. I think having coach there really helped me keep my head on straight, so I wasn't freaking out, and going crazy."
Jenna: "Is there anything else you'd like to add that I did not ask you as you floor and the camera here?"
Bolaji: "I want to thank my coach. I want to thank my coach because he's honestly really been there for me. He's believed in me the whole entire time even when at moments when I didn't believe in myself. He's really helped me in ways that I can't even say, and I'm so incredibly grateful."