Athlete Spotlight
It's not easy being a legend in your spare time, but Eve Machovec and Israel Machovec are managing just fine.
The brother-sister act is taking center stage at Augusta Christian Schools, where the Machovecs are busy making their mark in the shotput and discus events this spring.
Eve and Israel were playing other sports through fall and winter, so they didn't start to polish their throwing techniques until a month before the track-and-field season - yet they already have set new school records in both shot and discus.
Israel's best shot traveled 49 feet, 1 inch, and the sophomore's record discus throw was 157 feet, 3 inches.
"Throwing takes discipline, hard work and attention to detail, because you have to do the little things right," he says of his winning approach, which led him to the Region 7-AAAAA discus title at Evans High School last year.
Eve has established new AC standards in shot (36 feet, 3 inches) and discus (117 feet, 8 inches) while competing for the high-school squad, which is noteworthy because she's just an eighth-grader.
"When I see a bigger girl, I might be intimidated, but most of the time I'm really confident in myself," she said. "I just try to do my best."
Doing their best in athletics comes naturally in the Machovec family.
At an early age Israel and Eve were introduced to organized sports by their father, David Machovec, who has taught them how to out-perform stronger opponents in shot and discus.
"We're not the size of everyone else that throws, but we're still competitive. It is unusual," Israel said. "It's kind of fun, because when we go to throw, people don't think we can. They laugh at us, and when we get up there and throw, they're in awe."
The awe could increase at the region and state championships later this month, where the Machovecs are expected to contend for Georgia Independent Schools Association championships in shot and discus.
"It's different being in eighth grade because I've never been to state before," Eve said. "If I was in public school, I'd be doing small meets and stuff. This will be my first time in region and state, but I'll just try my best to win."
Though shot and discus events are individual pursuits, Israel and Eve grasp the bigger picture - the Lions and Lady Lions have enough talent to challenge for the GISA titles in track and field, and the Machovecs hope they can help make that team dream come true.
"Every time we participate, our points really matter, because we need every point we can if we want to win state," Israel said.