Kentlake’s busy Fong stays focused to go far

A Kentlake senior has gone above and beyond as a high school student and promises to achieve great things at Stanford University next fall.

Jordan Fong shines brightly in track and field, a strong and powerful competitor in her specialties – the javelin, discus and shot put. Away from the throwing circle, she also stands out, serving as the school’s ASB president and a Girl Scout while performing community service.

A hectic schedule leaves her with little free time.

“I have learned to manage my time. I normally juggle a really tight schedule, so I’m going from one event to the next all the time,” Fong said. “I’ve done that since I was probably in like sixth grade, so I’ve learned to time manage and all that stuff. … It does take a lot of work. I mean, I stay up late and do my homework … but in school I spend a lot of time in class and I have to focus, I can’t slack off.”

Fong has been competing in track since she was in fourth grade, but once she got to high school she dropped the running events and stuck with the throws. She has been improving ever since.

So far this season, Fong has the state’s second-base throw in the discus with a personal-best mark of 142 feet, 4 inches. Fong is ranked seventh among all state competitors in the shot put with a toss of 40-5. She threw the javelin 117-11, which is second best among district throwers.

Fong looks to contend for a Class 4A state medal in May. She finished fourth in the shot put and javelin and settled for sixth in the discus at the state championships last year.

If that isn’t enough, Fang enjoys throwing the hammer, basically a club sport for teens. She does some hammer work on Sundays. Her throw of 163-4 set earlier this year at a select meet remains second best in the state.

Fong works hard and consistently to maintain an edge.

“You have to be focused and drill everything every day, just so you don’t lose focus or lose the technique,” Fong said.

Fong decided to go to Stanford on a track and field scholarship that pays for about 75 percent of her schooling.

“I’m really excited, but I’m also a little nervous. I mean … it’s definitely going to be a learning curve,” Fong said. “But I’m really excited just because it’s Pac-12, and my (future Stanford) teammates have already been talking to me, and the atmosphere there is so welcoming. It’s exciting to be on campus because when I got there I knew that was where I was going to live for the next four years.”

Fong has decided to major in engineering at Stanford. Her dad suggested it – he’s an engineer, too – and he thought it would be a good fit for her.

Fong wasn’t sure she would even get into Stanford, but is glad she did.

“I picked a few schools last year when I was trying to do the recruiting process,” Fong said. “I picked a few long-shot schools and then some that would be within range. … I didn’t necessarily think I would be going (to Stanford), but they contacted me in the fall and wanted me out for an official visit.

“Doing that whole process, being on campus, being with the team and getting a feel for everything … it just fit my personality and fit my habits,” she said.