Q&A: Miller Place’s Jillian Scully, America’s No. 1 girls discus thrower

Jillian Scully’s senior year at Miller Place High School has been nothing short of historic.

On Saturday, the 18-year-old track and field phenom shattered a decades-old New York state record in the discus — and in doing so, she became the No. 1 ranked high school girls discus thrower in the entire country.

Scully’s discus launch of 174 feet, 2 inches at the Glenn D. Loucks Memorial Games in White Plains is the best discus throw in the United States so far this year. The state record it broke had stood since 1992.

She’s committed to LSU on a full ride and has 2028 Olympics team dreams. But before she graduates high school in June and leaves for Baton Rouge, we caught up with Scully for a Q&A session — and a little “This or That.”

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How long have you been throwing, and what got you into track and field?
I had a lot of excess energy and was always a fast runner. My mom told me I should try track — so I joined in 7th grade. I used to be mainly a long jumper and sprinter, but I started focusing more on throwing and sprinting around sophomore year.

Do you play any other sports?
I play volleyball, but I’m going to college just for track. (Editor’s note: she also competes in the 4×100 relay.)

You had offers from several top programs. What made you choose LSU?
My final options were Colorado State, Arizona State, University of Michigan, and LSU. I picked LSU because of the coach and his accomplishments. The atmosphere on campus just felt like somewhere I’d really enjoy being.

What will you miss most about Long Island?
The people. I’ve had so many teachers, coaches, students, athletes — even parents — rooting for me. I’m excited to expand my horizons, but I’ll definitely miss the people. Not necessarily Long Island itself — I think I’ll have a lot more options in a bigger place like Louisiana.

Do you have any specific goals in discus and shot put?
Yes — I want to hit 190 feet in discus and 52 feet in shot put. I’ve thrown both before, I just need to do it consistently at a meet. My biggest goal is to go to the 2028 Olympics in discus. I’m ecstatic about the potential I have and I won’t hesitate to chase it.

What are you studying at LSU — and do you know yet what you want to be when you ‘grow up’?
I’m studying biomedical engineering. I want to work with prosthetics and amputees, and eventually work with the Paralympics. [Paralympic double-amputee sprinter] Hunter Woodhall had a prosthetic malfunction at the world track championships that kept him from competing — and the fact that nobody could help in time really stuck with me. That’s part of what sparked my interest.

Anyone else in your family an athlete?
Yes — my brother Jimmy played football and lacrosse in high school, and lacrosse in college for Coastal Carolina. My dad claims to have played a bundle of sports in college — none of which he has evidence of (she said, joking). My mom was a swimmer, but stopped later in high school.

Favorite place to hang out with friends?
Honestly, my house. We all hang out in the backyard and sit on the trampoline and talk.

Is there an athlete you especially admire?
I love the Woodhalls — Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall. They’re a track couple and both are extremely successful in their events. I’ve been a fan since middle school.

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TikTok Scroll or Snapchat Streak?
Snapchat streaks — I deleted TikTok. I was doomscrolling and it annoyed me.

Slides or Crocs?
Slides

Mets or Yankees?
Not a big baseball person 😂

Prior coverage

Nation’s No. 1 high school girls discus thrower is from Long Island

_{Photos: Courtesy of Jillian Scully.}