Thursday, October 1, 2026
The first time Olivia Seifert threw a discus, her father Jim said, it flew out of her hand perfectly.
Four years later, the 13-year-old from Rockville Center is a national record-holder and one of the best in the U.S. for her age group in an event that’s brought her all over the country as it once did her father.
“It’s very fun going to all the meets,” said Olivia, who is preparing for eighth grade at South Side Middle School. “Each trip is like a mini vacation and I’ve made a lot of friends through competition.”
Six weeks after shattering the Long Island Track and Field discus record in the 13-14-year-old division with a throw of 112-feet, 3-inches, Olivia set the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) National record for her age group July 13 at the AAU/ESPN Rise Games National Championships in Orlando, Florida with a heave of 97’. It was her first national title and it’s third time she’s been tabbed All-American.
“Discus just came naturally to her and she’s works hard at it,” her father said. “She’s not the biggest kid around. In fact, she was the smallest of 30 [in her age group] in
Florida.”
An All-American at C.W. Post after picking up a discus for the first time as a junior at St. Agnes High School, Jim competed in the U.S. Olympic Trails three times (1992, 1996 and 2000) and was on the road to the `96 Summer Games in Atlanta before a broken left (non-throwing) wrist suffered in a car accident got in the way of his Olympic dreams.
He began a second stint as the men’s and women’s throwing coach at Farmingdale College five years ago and also provides coaching for high school athletes.
“Technique and speed are just as important as strength when it comes to discus,” Jim said. “Olivia’s also fond of the hammer throw and throws the shot put as well.”
Olivia, who also enjoys playing softball and singing in a choir, began discus throwing when she was nine years old and aspires to compete for the South Side High School track and field teams. Her aforementioned personal-best discus throw set May 27 at Farmingdale High School would have ranked her among the top three high school girls this spring.
