EVAN CARAVELLI/Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore thrower Rachel Varner recorded personal bests in the discus event in consecutive meets last week, including a throw of 190 feet during a competition at Long Beach State to defeat last year's NCAA Champion.

Name: Rachel Varner

Year: Sophomore

Event: Discus

From: Bakersfield, Calif.

After a demanding weekend of competitions in California, UA sophomore thrower Rachel Varner is now second in the country and third in UA history. She set, surpassed and reset a series of personal-best performances. At a throwing competition hosted by Cal State Los Angeles, Varner won the discus with a throw of 179 feet, 6 inches ÷ exceeding her previous best by more than three feet. At a Long Beach State competition, she exceeded that personal best with a mark of 190 feet, defeating last year's NCAA champion, Deshaya Williams.

Even though her sister, senior Amber Varner, is constantly vying for the same titles, Rachel said the Varner sisters know better than to let competition affect their friendship.

Wildcat: Coming off last weekend's performances, how does it feel to be ranked second nationally?

Varner: It feels really good. I knew I had a big throw in me coming. I was ready and it just felt really good. I'm happy that I'm second now.

Wildcat: Going into the second competition, did you try to better your own personal best? What was going through your head?

Varner: In the second meet, I just wanted to get past 70 (feet) · at least break that 80 mark. I was just like, "Oh my gosh." I didn't know (my throw) was that far. It was really great.

Wildcat: Where do you go from here after such an outstanding weekend?

Varner: I go next to San Diego this weekend. It's supposed to be a good meet, good wind. The top throwers are there; it's a really good meet.

Wildcat: Are you now thinking about being ranked first nationally?

Varner: No, right now what's going through my head is to keep throwing far, keep doing my technique right and just get it to all come together each meet.

Wildcat: What is it like competing against your sister, Amber, in the same events? Are you two competitive with one another or do you encourage each other?

Varner: We encourage each other. I don't think, "I'm going to beat her, I'm going to beat her." I just think about what I need to do. I encourage her and she encourages me.

Wildcat: Do you feel like you are following in her shadow, or is that pressure not there?

Varner: The pressure is not there. I do my own thing. I just concentrate on what I need to do.

Wildcat: So do you live together? Do you guys share? My sister and I have a sharing problem.

Varner: Yes, we do. We pretty much share anything. It's just easier that way, you know?

Wildcat: Do you look up to Amber? Did she get you interested into throwing events?

Varner: I got interested through my mom. My mom started me when I was in fourth grade. Ever since then, I've loved it. Her senior year in high school, she was a thrower. That was my main goal all throughout high school, to get a full-ride scholarship.

Wildcat: I know you have competed in the shot put and discus. Are there any other throwing events you compete in?

Varner: No, I've actually stopped shot put. I'm concentrating more on disc. It's my main sport, the one I love the most. I started out in both.

Wildcat: Is discus more challenging?

Varner: The discus comes more natural to me. I'm more relaxed in that. The shot ÷ I mean, I can do it. I just like discus so much better.

Wildcat: Track traditionally does not draw huge amounts of fans. What do you think about that? Do you compete better or worse in a packed house?

Varner: When people come to see me that I know of, I want to do well for them and do well for myself. Big crowds, small crowds ÷ it doesn't really matter to me. It could just be me and the official and that's it. That's all. (Laughs)

Wildcat: With track and field being such an individual sport, what do you think is more difficult: competing against yourself or competing against others?

Varner: I compete against myself because I want to keep improving each time. I mean, there are other competitors there, but I don't want to get my throwing up.

Wildcat: What do you want to do after you graduate?

Varner: I just want to keep throwing and go to the Olympics some day. I really haven't decided on what I want to do.

Wildcat: Do you like competing back home in California?

Varner: It's big and there's big meets. With the whole state, it's bigger and there's more competition. I like it. I feel like I am home and I feel more comfortable.

Wildcat: Do you have a lot of family at those meets? Do they put pressure on you?

Varner: Yes, I have a lot of family but they're there to cheer me on.

Wildcat: Do you follow any other sports?

Varner: I don't really follow (any) but I like watching other things. I like watching baseball; any sport, really.

Wildcat: Do you have any fun nicknames?

Varner: People call me "Rach." My parents call me "Ra-Loo." My coach (John Frazier) calls me his "Little Grr." Not too crazy or anything, just those.

Wildcat: Who are the craziest Arizona athletes you know?

Varner: One of our triple jumpers, J.R. Harrison, he's funny. Whitney (Schauer), she's one of our pole vaulters. She's funny, too. Some other jumpers and sprinters ÷ there's a bunch of them.

Wildcat: Word association. Rivalry.

Varner: Throw far.

Wildcat: Six-pack.

Varner: (Laughs) Abs?

Wildcat: Midnight snack.

Varner: Orange juice.

Wildcat: Sprinters.

Varner: Running.

Wildcat: Summer.

Varner: My birthday.

Wildcat: Olympics.

Varner: Throwing far.