Zara Northover: Moving in Faith towards London Glory

“It’s has been a real rough year for me … three of the prominent men in my life has passed away recently... but I am grinding it out, I am out there moving in faith and I am not giving up on making the Jamaican team.” said 28-year-old Zara Northover. Zara who competes in the shot put has lost her coach, her brother and her father during  the past eight months. Despite these adversities, Zara who has a 2012 season best 16.58m in the shot put is determined to meet the Olympic B standard of 17.20m. Ready for the Jamaican Trials At the adidas Grand Prix this past weekend, Zara who finished in 7^th place with a throw of 16.01m (which is below her lifetime best of 17.56m);  was unfazed by her poor showing and has her mind set on breaking the Jamaican national record of 18.28m, set by Kim Barrett in 2004. “That has been my desire to break the Jamaican shot put record. I have a couple of meets lined-up within the next few weeks  and at the Jamaican Trials on June 28^th I am coming hard.” said a confident Zara. Zara who currently lives and trains in Michigan said that her training is good well. Reflection, Adversities and Positivity “I grew up in New York of Jamaican parentage and I would visit Jamaica every summer. Throughout my whole life I have face adversity as a field competitor; we don’t get the support as field-event competitors. I use God as my motivator” said Zara. “Shot Put came about because I was good at it. Since I am one of the smallest competitors out there, it makes me believe that there is something deeper in me and there is a purpose and that purpose is my moving in faith motto which shows young girls that they can do anything they choose to do, regardless of their size and their situation.”