Brentwood Freshman Record-Setter in Florida for Break, at a Track Meet

Brentwood freshman Sophia Rivera's track and field season is off to quite a start.

At the first meet of the season–the first meet of her high school career–Rivera won both the shot put and the discus.

In the shot put, she threw 41'4", more than 14' ahead of the closest competitor. In the discus her throw of 116'7" easily won the meet. Her throws also set new Brentwood  records in both events.

Her mother, Michelle Hassemer said Rivera's shot put was the second best throw in the nation by a freshman so far this year. It also would have won State in last year's Class 2 meet.

This week, MoMileSplit named Rivera number two on a list of "10 Freshmen You Should Know" of area track and field athletes.

Rivera is spending spring break in Florida, but hit a track meet. She took 2nd in the shot put and 3rd in discuss in the Disney Invitational.

Rivera started out throwing the javelin five years ago, and discuss and shot put three years ago.

Her family has traveled, and Rivera has attended much larger schools in the past.

"I like the size of Brentwood, the closeness, the friendships, the comaraderie you feel in Brentwood–in the community and the school," she said.

She's aiming for the Kansas Relays in April. Hassemer said if she continues to improve, she'll enter the New Ballance Outdoor Nationals in the summer.

Her ultimate goal is the Olympics.

"I would very much like to make it to the Olympics, either on the American or Puerto Rican team," Rivera said. She was born in Puerto Rico and that's where her father is from.

Hassemer said although she is too young to be recruited, several Big10 and SEC coaches who have seen her throw have expressed interest.