Right arm raised next to her face, javelin gripped tightly, the junior begins her sprint down the runway, launching the sharpened pole down the field behind the white foul line. The javelin soars in the air surpassing her previous records and landing her yet again at the top of Glen Rock High School’s record books.

Karina Roze has found major success this season, competing at New Balance Nationals indoor during the winter, a track and field competition where she had to qualify for her berth. Although qualifying for New Balance Nationals outdoor this spring, she will not attend due to an injury. She also competed in the Penn Relays, where she found success in javelin. Roze has also advanced to the Tournament of Champions after placing third for discus in the State Group Finals for a chance to be crowned a state champion.  

Roze’s track and field career began in sixth grade, but it wasn’t until mid-freshman year when she was approached by Coach Paul White Glen Rocks who asked if she could try javelin. Her first throw was 90 feet and her career took off. She began breaking school records for javelin and the other events in which she participated. Then, she even broke the records she had set.

In April, Roze traveled to Pennsylvania to compete at the Penn Relays. The event took place from April 25 to 27 and is the world’s oldest and most widely recognized track event. It’s held at the University of Pennsylvania.

What had seemed to be a slow season would soon take a turn for Roze as she stepped out onto that throwing field. In a single throw, she would bust the bracket and climb up the ranks. “I was seeded 7th [for Javelin] going into it and placed fourth,” Roze said.

She threw a new personal best and a new school record with a throw distancing 141 feet, 2 inches. It was the 12th best throw in Bergen County history. This throw gave her the first Penn Relays medal for any Glen Rock individual athlete.

Roze plans to continue with her track career in college, participating in javelin, discus and shot put.