Saturday Spotlight: Star Thrower Sullivan Ready For Indoors


Two years of frustration turned into elation last spring for Demarest's Casey Sullivan

After missing nearly her entire freshman outdoor season with a foot injury, and then having her sophomore year knocked out by COVID-19, Sullivan made up for all that lost time when she exploded in the circle this past outdoor season to become the state's top shot putter.

The combination of a relentless work ethic, raw power, exceptionally quick feet, and one of the best throwing coaches in state history (Mike Theuerkauf) enabled Sullivan to hit some huge numbers in the ring last spring.

After an early season 42-4 at the Bergen County Relays showed that Sullivan was poised to have a big junior season, she came up with the biggest throw of her career when she launched a 45-5.5 bomb at the State Group 2 Championships to finish first and smash the 32-year-old meet record of 45-3.5 that was set in 1989 by Karen Harris of Hillside. Sullivan's 45-5.5 ranked her No. 11 in the nation among all underclassmen.   

Sullivan, who also had PR's of 123-11 in the discus when she won the North Jersey, Sec. 1 Group 2 title and a PR of 105-3 in the javelin, put an exclamation point on her remarkable throwing campaign by winning the shot put at the Meet of Champions last June with a throw of 43-3.  

Sullivan said the disappointment of not being able to throw during her first two years, lit a fire under her.     

"I wish I had more track seasons under my belt,'' said Sullivan. "But not having them just made me want to work harder so I can make the most out of my high school career, and it motivated me to work even harder because there is great competition in New Jersey, and I knew I was playing catch up to some girls who have been throwing their whole lives.''

As a result of all her success in the circle last spring, the Wake Forest-bound Sullivan has decided to give up basketball this season to throw indoors for the first time.

NJ MileSplit recently caught up with Sullivan for a Q and A where Sullivan talked about the choice to give up hoops, how her connection with Coach Theuerkauf has had a profound impact on her life, the decision to attend Wake Forest, how her half-sister inspired her, and how the culture of the Demarest track and field program, led by girls head coach Mike Ippolito and boys head coach Theuerkauf, makes it feel like a second family to her.    

So kick back and enjoy our latest installment of Feature Friday as we shine on Demarest throwing star Casey Sullivan.  

NJM: I know you played basketball your first three years of high school, so could you tell me what made you decide to give up hoops this year and throw indoors?

Giving up basketball was a decision that took time, but wasn't a hard decision. After participating in track for a few weeks, I fell in love with throwing and knew that I wanted to continue to give it my full attention.

How and when did you get started throwing the shot put and discus? What got you interested in getting involved with track and field and throwing, and how much were you inspired to throw by your half-sister, Jaclyn.

I started throwing in high school. I threw my freshman year for about two weeks, and then I broke my ankle playing basketball, so technically I fully started throwing in March of 2021. I got involved with track and field because of Turk (Theuerkauf, who is also the boys head coach a Demarest). I have known Turk since I was eight, and when I entered high school he told me to try it, so I did. All of last season, I would call my sister for advice because I was new to throwing and she threw javelin all of high school (Ridgewood High-Class of 2007), and then she went to Dartmouth to continue her throwing career.

Jaclyn also came to a lot of my meets last year to support me. One meet, she drove all the way from Vermont to South Jersey to support the team. She was the best supporter for the NVD (Northern Valley Demarest) throwers. Everyone loves her.

When was your big breakthrough in the shot, when you realized that you could really be a great thrower and do big things in this sport?

I can't pinpoint an exact moment I had a big breakthrough in the shot, but once I started throwing 40 feet consistently, I knew I would be okay at shot.


Coach Turk is one of the very best throwing coaches in NJ history, and I know you've known him for a long time. In what specific ways has he helped you become the thrower you are now.

I agree with you that Coach Turk is one of the very best throwing coaches in NJ history, but I would also say that Turk is the best coach I have ever had, and I think I will ever have. I played basketball for nine years before doing track, and in those nine years I have had over 20 coaches/ trainers, and none of them compare to Turk. Turk is very much for his athletes. Whether or not you are a freshman who has never thrown before, or an experienced thrower, he gives everyone his full attention when they are practicing. He not only cares about his athletes' athletic performances, but how they are doing outside of the circle. Whether that be mentally, emotionally, personally, etc. I truly do appreciate and admire Turk and can't thank him enough.

You made a huge jump from 42-4 last year to your PR of 45-5.5. What specifically can you point to for what helped you improve your PR in the shot put so much last spring?

The two major things that really stand out that have helped is, focusing in practice and having supportive teammates that push me in practice but also encourage me.

Just about every thrower starts out with the glide, and some eventually switch to the spin? How about you? Tell me about your transition from glide to spin? When did you make the change and what was that like for you, and how much of a difference has it made?

I started off with the spin. Turk taught me both, and let me choose which one I was most comfortable with, and it was the spin.

What do you love the most about throwing, and what do you consider your greatest strength as a thrower?

I love that in throwing, what you put into it is what you get out of it. If you work hard in practice and in the weight room, you will see the results at meets. The only thing holding you back in throwing is yourself. I love throwing because it makes you want to work harder because if you don't, there is someone else out there working hard who will beat you. As a thrower, I think my biggest strength is self-motivation, and the willingness to do whatever it takes to perform to my best abilities.

Your PR of 45-5.5, which broke the Group 2 meet record last spring, was the No . 1 throw in the state last spring, so what does it mean to you to be the state's top thrower and what kind of goals do you have for yourself this indoor season? I would have to think that becoming a 50 foot thrower is something you're aiming for?

My goals for this indoor season are to learn from my mistakes in practice, and to continue to learn about myself as an athlete to perform at my best. To perform my best I also need to listen to my body and prevent injury. I don't want to set a number goal, I just want to keep getting better day by day.

Winning a Meet of Champs title is the goal and dream of every T&F athlete in N.J. What did winning that title in the shot put last June mean to you, Casey? You've worked very hard to reach this level.

It was a very fun meet to compete and I am very happy I won but I am not taking that win into this season. My mentality is, you never know who is throwing and how hard they are working. So I have to continue to work hard because the competition is good, and I know they are also getting better.

How tough were the first two years of your high school track and field and career? You missed almost your whole freshman season after tearing ligaments in your foot playing basketball, and then COVID knocked out your sophomore year.

I wish I had more track seasons under my belt, but not having them just makes me want to work harder so I can make the most out of my high school career.

How much did missing your freshman and sophomores outdoors seasons motivate you to have a huge junior season? You really made up for lost time last spring.

It motivated me to work harder because there is great competition in New Jersey, and I knew I was playing catch up to some girls who have been throwing their whole lives.

What has your training been like since the season ended last spring? What have you been doing in your training and workouts to help you hit even bigger numbers this season and this spring?

I took a few months off from throwing to focus on getting stronger in the weight room and faster.

When is your first meet this indoor season?

January 12.

How about the future, Casey. I know you are committed to attend Wake Forest. What was it about Wake Forest that made you feel that was the right place for you to continue your throwing and academic career, and what will you major in?

Over the summer I visited around 10 schools on unofficial visits and none of them compared to Wake Forest. When I was visiting schools I made a pros and cons list and then rated the school on a scale of 10. When I went to visit Wake for the first time the list for pros was very long and there were no cons. I also rated the school 9.99/10. I didn't give it a 10/10 because I wanted to wait for my official visit and learn more about the team. In September I went on my official visit to Wake and met the throwing team. The rest of the track team was there as well and they were obviously each other's home away from home. I also got to watch a practice and see how Coach Post worked with his athletes, and how great of a coach he really is. After watching that practice, I wanted to work with Coach Post while continuing my throwing career. Wake Forest is also one of the best schools in the nation for academics, and I know they will push me to be the most successful I can be.

Is there anything you'd like to add, Casey?

One thing that you didn't ask, but I wanted to add was about my team. I think the NVD track team is very special. All the events support each other. In meets, we are always cheering each other on, and even in practice you will see the jumpers by the throwing ring encouraging us throwing. Then you will see the long-distance runners cheering on the hurdlers. In practice, all the event groups warm up together and they are so much fun. They are fun because you get to learn who your teammates are which makes practice and meets more fun. It is very much a family. We also have the best coaches. My throwing coach is Turk but the head girls coach is Coach Ippolito. Coach Ippolito is very supportive. The throwers are usually one of the last event groups at practice and Coach Ippolito always stays to support. Also once a year he throws which is very entertaining because he is a cross country runner. Another Coach is Coach Kenny. Kenny works with the hurdlers but before meets and at practice he always gets me hyped and ready to throw. I would like to thank my 45.5 1/2 throw to him. That day, I walked into his classroom and there was a huge problem. The problem was what my pre-meet meal should be. It was between a chicken cutlet sandwich, and a turkey sandwich. Kenny told me to get a chicken cutlet sandwich, and ever since then a chicken cutlet sandwich has been my pre-meet meal. Overall, NVD track and field is a family, we have fun times, but we know when to focus and work hard.