What started as a way to stay active during the off-season quickly turned into a journey towards an outstanding level of success. Jetta Thaete, the reigning 5A Idaho State Champion in javelin, never expected that the seemingly simple decision to join track would lead to achieving one of the greatest accomplishments of anyone’s high school career. With an astonishing throw of 138 feet 10 inches, Jetta not only set a new school record, but also placed number 1 in the state of Idaho and 40th in the nation.
When asked why she started track she said the reasoning was simple: “I just thought it would be fun” and “I just like to stay active”. Thaete is a multisport athlete, so her track journey really just began as a way to keep busy during the basketball downseason. Additionally, she wasn’t originally a thrower in track, Thaete attempted several different events before settling on throwing. “I don’t really know why I loved throwing so much, maybe just because I picked it up fast, but I knew I had fun throwing,” she said in an interview on Tuesday May 20th. Thaete may have picked up throwing with ease as she became state champion in javelin only 2 short years after she first tried it; however, she urges new throwers or those interested in joining throwing events to be patient in learning, “just because your first throws aren’t the best don’t give up” she stated before adding “don’t compare yourself to others”. Thaete, while a natural, also says she could not have done it without consistent practice and a supportive community beside her; in fact, the community is Thaete’s favorite part about the sport, “no matter what meet I went to and whether they were from a different school or not, I always had someone cheering me on.” Thaete claims that without the unconditional support from her team, fellow throwers, and her parents, she wouldn’t be where she is today.
Proceeding into her senior year, Jetta will continue on with her track journey throughout the 2026 season, hopefully bringing Sandpoint High School more titles to come, as she advances in her sport.
