Sam Chemin is tackling a lot of firsts lately.

A sophomore on the Liberty Christian track team, Chemin is in just his second year of athletics.

Not just athletics at the school – athletics, in general.

After making it to running events at state as a freshman, Chemin is tackling a new challenge.

In addition to running the 200 meters, the 400, and the 4x400 relay, Chemin has now picked up a new endeavor, literally, picked up, as in the javelin.

“Last year was my first year ever doing sports, last year, ninth grade was my first,” Chamin said. “I really wanted to be able to learn how to throw. I love throwing, it’s really awesome. A lot of it is running, actually.” 

Chemin credits his willingness to give sports, track, running and throwing a try to receiving a gentle push from Liberty Coach Doug Smith.

Smith, working to find out just what he had in forming a track program last season, cut a wide swath in getting events covered.

“He asked us to try just about everything,” recalled Chemin. “We’d go out and give something a try for a week and we’d figure out if we liked it. I originally thought I was going to be a jumper but I went out and started running and really liked that, so that’s what I did.”

Chemin liked running so much that he went on to take the silver medal in the 400 last year at the Missouri Christian Schools Athletic Association (MCSAA) state meet.

His time of 57.52 seconds was bettered only by Kaden Casteel of the Daniel Academy.

Smith said that even though Chemin was a track newbie, his desire to continuously improve made him a force to be reckoned with all the way to the state meet in Joplin.

“Sam, from day one, would try anything and would work hard at trying anything,” Smith said. “We got him out there and he ran the 200s and the 400s and he was just rolling. He’s just so strong. We worked on his technique just a little bit. He competes. He works hard, likes to train and to stay in shape.”

The coach added that he sees just a bit of Deja vu happening this year.

Although Chemin is undertaking a new event, he’s doing so with the same great attitude and willingness to put in the work to get better.

“The javelin is a high technique event,” Smith said. “He’s working on figuring it out. He (recently) had a real good practice. I’m excited to see where he goes with it. Sam is just one of the most solid student-athletes that we have. He’s a class kid. He’s a very powerful Christian.”

While Smith said he has little doubt Chemin can excel at throwing, he’s also still got that very bright future in running, the coach said.

Now a certified track and field athlete, Chemin said that the last year has been an exciting one for him and he can’t wait to see how he can benefit from even more hard work.

“I’ve grown as a runner,” Chemin said. “I love track. It’s really surprised me because, like I said, I haven’t done any sports at all. I just love racing and am excited to give it my best in running and throwing the javelin. I want to see where it takes me.”