11-year-old Keeley Rasmussen has quickly reached heights in discus that her coach calls shocking

Down a quiet backroad she strolls, discus in hand, determination on her sleeve. Like countless times before, she leaves the house to find seclusion and focus in the family pasture. It's where much time is spent, throwing her discus, chasing after it and throwing again. It's tedious but worth it.

With every heave, she yearns to get better — practicing the details, mastering the technique. Out here improvements take time.

But when the silence of the countryside is replaced by the roar of spectators, 11-year-old Keeley Rasmussen puts her practice to play.

Rasmussen's will in the pasture has paid off in competition, as the Cedar Ridge Middle School sixth grader quickly has become one of the best young American throwers in the sport today. Her career, though just beginning, met its highest honor last month when she placed ninth out of more than 40 throwers at the Junior Olympic Track and Field National Championships in Baltimore.

Preceding that are a list of achievements, each more impressive than the last.

“It takes a lot of work,” Rasmussen says.

And that work has led to heights her coach Doug Bowman calls “shocking.”

Rasmussen, a member of Team Oregon USA track club in Sandy, began competing in track and field as a kindergartener but turned her focus to discus just last year. She started training under Bowman, and soon blossomed. In her first year of competition, she climbed through state and regionals and eventually qualified for nationals — otherwise known as the Junior Olympics.

With every accomplishment, she strived to work harder.

Every time she grabbed a discus, her drive matched her potential. And for her coach, it was his lifeblood.

“It seems like every time I want to retire, a young athlete comes along that brings me back,” Bowman says. “With her desire, she'll work as hard as I push her. And I'll push her as hard as she wants to work.”

Rasmussen was immersed in discus and began training alongside throwers she admired — none more recognizable than two-time state champion and Sandy High School record holder McKenzie Warren, who also was coached by Bowman.

Rasmussen wanted to emulate Warren. Her style, her technique, her desire — it was all a model of perfection.

“I watched what she did and figured I could probably do that someday, too,” Rasmussen says.

In Bowman's camp, this had always bred success. The veterans mentor the young, and years later, the cycle continues. Years before Warren became a local legend, she modeled herself after Kayla Hendershot, Sandy High's former discus record holder. And after breaking that record and building her own legacy, it was Warren's time to mentor a future talent.

“We always use throwers to help the younger throwers,” Bowman says. “McKenzie improved because of Kayla, and Keeley has improved because of McKenzie's mentorship.”

The pair worked together at every practice, and Rasmussen was making strides. She was throwing 58 feet at the start of the year, but she'd obliterated that mark in a matter of months.

Rasmussen qualified for the state meet, then regionals and again nationals, setting a new personal record every step of the way.

Two weeks before nationals, she competed in the Hayward Track City Classic at the University of Oregon, a meet for the best young athletes from as far north as Canada and as far south as San Diego. Future Olympians competed here. Former track star Marion Jones holds a record here. Rasmussen was standing at the gateway to greatness.

And her performance, as her coach would say, was shocking.

Rasmussen won the midget girls division, throwing 69 feet, 10 inches, another personal best.

From there it was on to Baltimore and the imposing challenge of nationals.

With 8,000 athletes competing, the atmosphere can easily be overwhelming for an 11-year-old. Suddenly, it's not just about talent; it's a mental test not everyone can pass.

While some crumble, Rasmussen excelled.

“I had been throwing better in practice than I ever had before, so I thought that I could throw better than some of these people,” she says. “I wanted to do the best that I could do because this was a big event.”

With thousands of fans on hand, Rasmussen calmed her nerves and unleashed a throw she'll always remember. She won her heat, setting another personal record of 77 feet, 5 inches and finished in ninth place.

“If you need something done on a team, there's those who want the ball in their hands at the end of the game,” Bowman says. “That's her. She's a finisher.”

Many have seen the marvel Keeley Rasmussen has become. She soars in competition, performing at her best when her best is needed. But away from the throwing ring is where her talent evolves.

In the pasture, she works, amassing countless hours of practice as she strives to improve. Out here there are no roars, only the image of who she wants to become. In the silence of the country, Rasmussen learns to throw. But the greater lesson here is that hard work has its rewards.

“She has worked so hard,” says her mother, Kathy. “And then to see her continually get better and go further and further, it's exciting. It makes me feel good, and I'm proud of her. I'm just so glad she can see the reward from working so hard.”

Sports reporter Kristopher Anderson can be reached by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .