Luana Botelho looks to improve on perfection

When Luanna Botelho first stepped onto the track, she wanted to be a sprinter. After a short-lived career in the sprints, the 6'1" self-described "big girl" listened to her coach's advice and wandered over to the throwing circle. No one could have known then, her freshman year of high school, just how far Botelho would come. As a freshman on the Penn women's track and field squad, Botelho set the team record for the shot put during both the winter and the spring seasons. She also set the Penn record in the discus. Botelho also placed eighth in the outdoor ECAC championships and recorded a third-place finish at the outdoor Heps in the discus. If it weren't for an obnoxious softball coach, Botelho might not have ever found her way to the track. Undecided on which of the two sports to play at Oliver Ames in South Easton, Mass., Botelho was turned off by the over-eager softball coach, who told her that track wasn't even a real sport. This made for an easy decision and Botelho hasn't looked back since. Botelho was fortunate enough to have an accomplished senior, one who now throws at Duke, take her under her wings, teaching her the proper techniques and the mentality necessary to excel in the event. She went on to two second-place finishes and a first-place finish in the Massachusetts state meet, winning the New England Championship as a junior. Botelho capped her outstanding high school career by placing 12th in the Junior Olympic Nationals. Now Botelho enters her sophomore season at Penn looking to show continued improvement. Coming off an indoor season which saw her place second in the Heptagonals and re-set her own Penn record in the shot, Botelho is just trying to get back in the groove as the heart of the outdoor season approaches. Botelho kicked off the spring season with a mixed performance in the Quaker Invitational. Despite finishing second in the discus, she had trouble with her form in the shot put and was disqualified for not landing any of her three attempts successfully. "Right now, it's just getting your timing back, your techniques," Botelho said. Despite all her past success, Botelho is not one to let things go to her head. She has a positive attitude and does not take herself too seriously. As a result, she is not a likely candidate for the dreaded sophomore slump. "I just like to go out there and have fun," said Botelho. "If I'm too serious, I try too hard." The Quakers hope Botelho's attitude is infectious as they prepare for their second meet, the Penn Invitational, this Saturday at Franklin Field. Coming off an impressive opening meet, Penn hopes to show even more improvement against virtually the same field as last week's Quaker Invitational. Botelho and the Quakers hope this meet will bring them one step closer towards their seasonal goal of performing well in the outdoor Heps and the Penn Relays.