“When I sit there as a parent watching her, I have to pinch myself sometimes.”
To say Richmond mom Shari Rogers is proud of her record-breaking athlete daughter, Camryn, would be putting it mildly.
Rarely an event goes by without 23-year-old prolific hammer throwing star Camryn setting some kind of record, be it NCAA collegiate – for her University of California Bears - or a Canadian one.
The senior was at it again last week at her NCAA swan song in Eugene, OR, where she shattered her own Canadian and U.S. collegiate records with a toss of 77.67 metres -- the ninth all-time best women's throw in the world and beating the second-place finisher by almost three metres.
It was the Kajaks alumnus’ third NCAA title in a row and something that her gushing mom never gets used to witnessing.
“I sit and think, ‘wow, that’s my child.’ It’s so gratifying… It’s exhilarating to watch and you get so involved,” Shari told the Richmond News.
“It blows me away. She trains five plus hours a day, on top of all her studies, she never complains. She just has this mentality that this is what she wants and does what it takes.
“But knowing Camryn’s personality, resilience and determination, it doesn’t surprise me that she does what it takes to be the best.
“I see her as my daughter then I see her out there doing these things. It is just amazing to me. And she’s incredibly humble and very grateful for all the support she gets, especially from her coach, Mo. He is absolutely perfect for her.”
Camryn an inspiration to others: Mom
Shari added that Camryn’s achievements are “great for other girls to see. Maybe she will inspire some people as well.”
Camryn is now fourth all-time in the world, as well as being the Canadian and NCAA collegiate record holder.
Shari said Camryn graduated in May with a bachelor of science in natural resources and a bachelor of arts in political economy.
Canadian title tilt, Worlds and Commonwealth Games awaits
But never the type to slow down, she will be back in B.C. this weekend for the Canadian Championships at McLeod Park in Langley, before heading to the World Championships in Eugene in July and then the Commonwealth Games for Canada in Birmingham, England in August.
“It was bitter sweet. This year I made a vow to do what it takes to get to all of (Camryn’s events) because it was her last year,” said Shari.
“It was an amazing finish, but it is weird to think that’s her last time at that level.”
Camryn was fifth last year at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first Canadian woman to ever throw in an Olympic hammer final and was the youngest in the final by almost two years.
With a file from The Canadian Press
