Athlete: Laura Lavine, Issaquah, Class of 1984

Sports: Basketball, track and field

High-school rewind: Lavine, a 5-foot-11 post, played three years of varsity basketball. As a senior, she scored 27 straight points in a playoff game against Ballard and earned selection to The Star Times all-area team. But her most impressive feats came in the thrower's ring, where she won Class 4A state titles in the discus (1983 and '84) and shot put ('84). Her best discus throw (154 feet, 1 inch) still ranks in the top 25 in Washington prep history.

After high school: Attended Washington State, winning Pac-10 and NCAA titles in the discus in 1987 and '88. Her best throw of 189-10 still stands as a school record. Competed at the 1988 and '92 Olympic Trials.

After athletics: Worked at a variety of jobs after moving to Tucson, Ariz., in January 1989. Did some personal training. Worked for an exercise equipment company. Now a store manager for Albertson's, a company she has been with for a little over nine years.

Personal: Lavine, 38, lives in Tucson with Karen, her partner of nearly 14 years. They have three dogs, all dachshunds. Her brother, Dave, also a standout thrower at Issaquah, has been a volunteer throws coach at Auburn Riverside High School the past couple years.

Fast forward: Lavine underwent a technical overhaul in Arizona, where she moved to train after college. She gained strength, speed and fitness. But much to her frustration, added distance didn't follow.

"At the time, I thought that was the right thing to do," she said. "But looking back on it, I think it would have been better doing it the way my body worked."

Though she no longer is involved with organized sports, Lavine said athletics were an important part of her youth.

"Finding that niche in sports was such a good thing," she said. "I'm pretty quiet and shy, and it really helped me come out as a person and find something I was good at."