East County Athlete of the Week: Kiki Bullas

Sports didn't stop for Kiki Bullas with the end of the academic year. From June 25-28, the Lakewood Ranch rising senior will throw a javelin in the AAU Region 9 Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships at Cypress Creek High School. She wrapped her junior season by placing 16th in javelin at the FHSAA Class 4A state championships with a 30.21-meter mark. Bullas is the East County Athlete of the Week.

What did you hope to accomplish last season?

My goals were to try to make it to states and get as far as I could. After I finished my sophomore year, that's when I started focusing more on javelin and realized I want to put the work into making myself go as far as I could. I started competing over the summer, going into my junior year, so being able to aim for states was a higher goal I set for myself. Making it that far was such a good feeling.

When and why did you start competing in the javelin?

I've been playing soccer since I was little, and once I was around 13 or 14, I realized I could do a really, long throw-in — almost half-field. Then I was guided by coaches and teachers who would see videos of me doing it. They were like, "Oh, you should try this track and field event," and I never knew of javelin until my freshman year of high school. My teacher that I had at the time (Erika McCarthy) also competed in track and field when she was in high school, so she told me about this event, and she brought me out to meet her dad (Bill Zarrella), who was the director of the track and field team. He led me straight to where the practice was, and I haven't put down a javelin since.

How would you describe your passion for this sport?

I feel that drive to beat your competition. You want to get as far as you can, throwing-wise, and the adrenaline that it brings... With each throw, I just want to keep throwing farther and farther, because I want to win.

What quote or piece of advice have you always carried with you?

"Do the work when no one's watching."

What's a fun fact about you not many people know?

I like to bake, and I bake brookies (a mix of a brownie and a cookie) a lot.

Who is your favorite professional athlete and why?

Trinity Rodman. She's on the U.S. Soccer women's national team, and she's always been a great inspiration guiding me through soccer. Obviously, I haven't been in track and field for a long time, so I was more watching her for the soccer.

Do you have any summer plans you're excited about?

I am competing in track and field, and I'm off to the (USATF Region 4 Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships from July 9-12 in Carrollton, Georgia) and AAU regionals. I'm hoping to make nationals again, like I did last year. That will lead me to Iowa (for AAU) and California (for USATF) if I make both.

If you could go anywhere for a dream vacation, where would you go and why?

The Bahamas, because I like the outdoorsy, beachy vibe, and I'd like play with those little pigs that are in the water.

What music gets you in the zone during practice or before a meet?

I listen to a lot of hype music. Rihanna definitely gets me the most hyped.

Finish this sentence. Kiki Bullas is...

Positive. I try to stay very positive.