Don't think. Just go.

In a typical track meet for Tamaqua's Morgan Boyle, she begins with the javelin event, then she runs down to the track for the 100-meter dash. Once that is completed, she participates in the pole vault competition before she runs back to the track again for the 4x1 relay."It's perfect for me," says Boyle. "I don't have enough time to really think about the events I'm in and that's a good thing when it comes to my performance."And her outstanding performances have earned Boyle The Times News Female Track Athlete of the year.During this past season, she won the district javelin throw and finished second in the pole vault. In state competition, Boyle finished sixth in the javelin, and eighth in the pole vault event. She has won four career medals at this level of competition in the past two years. According to Tamaqua coach Tom Kanger, she was "disappointed" in her top 10 finishes."Morgan threw an excellent 133' 11" and pole vaulted 10 feet, where her gymnastics background has helped, but she was upset because she wanted personal bests in both events."Kanger says that the talents of his junior Lady Raider were first observed during her freshman season when she exhibited what he calls a "natural talent.""Morgan was already throwing the javelin 75 to 100 feet while most freshmen throw in the 50-60 foot range. She was a good sprinter too, which you could also see when she ran the field during her soccer games in the fall."Boyle's interest in the javelin, her best event, did not happen immediately despite the fact that her brother and mother threw it during their school days."The first time I picked a javelin up, it felt awkward and weird," she says. "I wanted to play softball again."She stuck with it, however, and credits her javelin coach, John Kotchmar with keeping her focused during training and practice sessions."He puts me through drills to improve my technique. I also had big influences from my teammates, Christine Streisel, (now at Duke University) and this year from Paige Demetriades (attending Pitt in the fall where she will throw the javelin for the Panthers). Christine was awesome. Coach told me to do everything she did. This year, Paige (defending Schuylkill League champion) and I had a friendly competition to see who would finish first and second. It didn't matter though. We really encouraged each other to do our best. We were one, two in every meet."As a sophomore, Boyle threw a best 126 feet. Kranger reports that Boyle's best javelin throw this year was 135.1 feet. This year, she also participated in the Penn Relays."If she throws 150 in her senior year. It would not surprise me. She's that determined and that talented and her off-season workouts should prepare her for this accomplishment as well.Boyle's regimen will include weight and agility training to increase her strength and coordination, both essential skills to be a successful javelin thrower.Although she loves track and field and she believes the season is way too short, Boyle enjoys playing soccer in the fall."Track is really an individual effort most of the time, but soccer is teamwork and I enjoy that aspect because it's not all on me."Kranger describes his star athlete as "extremely tenacious," and competitive in everything she does and at times that persona can work against her performance."Morgan gets hyped very quickly," says Kranger. "I tell her not to think about her competitors. Relax and throw and your talent will give you the results you want.""I think sometimes it's crazy to compete in four events, but then again I love it. I do need to relax more," says Boyle. "I'm at my best when I just focus on what I need to do."As far as her value to the team, Kranger adds, "If we need a couple of points at the end of a meet to win, I can count on her to help us get them when she runs anchor in the relay."When asked how throwing a javelin, not a very exciting event to most sports fans, as well as how her other track and field events help her in other areas of life, Boyle, answers intuitively, without overthinking the question."It will make me a stronger person to face the competition I will have in my future life," she says. "And sometimes, you can't rely on other people so this experience will also help me become more independent."But for now, the Times -News Track Female Athlete of the Year will concentrate on one special goal for throwing the javelin next season."Win gold in the states," she says without hesitation.Morgan Boyle has a simple formula for to win in the state competition next year. Improve her skills. Stay focused.And she hopes to remember something else when she picks up that spear she once described as "awkward" and "weird."Don't think. Just throw.