Morgan Causey stood in her black track uniform and spectated with unrelenting anxiety as rubber-tipped spears flew through the air in front of her.

After qualifying for the final round of the Class 6A girls javelin state championships by the slimmest margin imaginable, Causey produced the best throw of her career in her third and final attempt of the championship round. The throw put her in first place, but as the last seed, she had to wait for everyone else’s last toss to see where she’d land on the leaderboard.