"This season, I have been training for the most part by myself with just me and my coach. When I first started training with my coach, the group was quite big and was made up of mostly hammer throwers. Some of those athletes have either gone on to other ventures or are still throwing but in the NCAA. During breaks, they come back and it's always so much fun to catch up with them. I spent this past Christmas training with Michael Ogbeiwi who is at Arizona, Keerat Dhillon who is at Idaho and Mateya Haintz who is at Bowling Green. It's cool to be able to have them give me feedback and share their NCAA experiences so far. I think being that I was the youngest one in a pretty successful group, there was a little less pressure early on and I got to see how the next level up of athletes training and handling themselves in school and on the field."
Now with the 2023 season behind us and the 2024 season already underway, Phangura has made her way back to the throws circle. At the beginning of February she opened up at the Indoor Harry Jerome Games.
"I had an indoor shot put personal best which ranks me second all time in BC for the U18 indoor shot put. Although the results weren't a good indicator of how training has been it was still a person's best and it was nice to get the chance to compete and knock the rust off. I am hoping to come back again next year and break the BC U18 record."
As for the outdoor season there is a lot on the mind and a lot to be accomplished.
"At the start of the season I sat down with my coach and we made a handful of goals for the year. Of course personal bests are always on my mind - I would like to throw the shot put over 15m, the discus over 40m and the hammer over 50m. My main goal however, is to win the BC High School Championships in all three of my events and if the opportunity arises break the BC High School Record in Junior Girls shot put. Beyond this year my goals often change as I grow athletically but I would love to get a scholarship opportunity to throw in the NCAA and also make a Canadian team - either PanAm U20s or World Juniors before my high school career is over."
With that Phangura leaves us with a few final words.
"I would like to thank my parents for always driving me all over and supporting me in everything that I need, my coach Brad for always pushing me to do my best and set my expectations high and for my training partners for everything they do."