TAMPA, Fla. — Mira Carozza may have won, but she wasn’t too happy.
The University of South Florida junior was the only competitor to throw further than 38 metres in the women’s javelin on Friday, reaching 41.01 metres with her last attempt at the USF Invitational.
She still wasn’t satisfied.
“I’m not mad, [but] I know I could’ve definitely improved, there’s a lot of room there,” said the 20-year-old, who’s studying health sciences. “[It’s] not what I wanted to throw, but I’m not disappointed.”
For Carrozza, the key to success might just be getting healthy.
Her freshman year was marred by a back injury, and this year a shoulder impingement is making it difficult to get the practice needed to excel in her sport.
“My whole shoulder is just kind of messed up right now,” said Carrozza. “I’m trying to work through that, fix it, and just try to get quality over quantity in training.”
Carrozza has been throwing the javelin since her sophomore year at Canon McMillan High School, in Canonsburg, Pa. Before then she played softball. While she still loves her old sport, and considers it her passion, Carrozza is content with her switch.
“I transitioned for a reason and … I’m really focused on this and really wanna kind of progress and do a lot better,” said Carrozza, who hopes to become a dentist. “I know I can do a lot better.”
Going from softball to javelin is not the only big move the young student-athlete has had to make. Tampa is a long way from her native Pittsburgh, but that’s just the way she likes it.
“I knew I wanted to go far away from home, so … I didn’t really look at any local schools,” said Carrozza. “I kind of talked to some southern schools, and this was the first school that I came and visited.
“As soon as I got off the plane I knew I was gonna come here.”
Carrozza’s teammates also placed well, with Onalee Collins and Rachel Klinger finishing second and fourth respectively. Carrozza admits that being on a highly competitive team while going to school can be rather hectic.
“It’s just kind of busy all day every day, you don’t really stop,” said Carrozza. “But, that’s why we love it.”