Life rarely slows down for Nikalena Iacono.

The Lyndhurst junior might be the busiest high school athlete in Bergen County right now and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

As a thrower on her school’s track and field team and the quarterback for the flag football team, Iacono tightropes a delicate and sometimes draining balance that’s allowed − for now − with the latter sport not yet sanctioned by the NJSIAA.

One time last month, her teams had events on the same day at Lyndhurst High School fewer than four hours apart. Iacono never left the premises and a food run from her mother made it feasible.

If that wasn’t enough, Iacono’s decision to compete in a spring soccer league adds another practice and Sunday match to the weekly schedule.

“I’m used to the busyness,” said Iacono, a four-sport athlete who’s ranked third in her class academically.

“I actually love it. I’m always happy to say that I’m always busy. Obviously it’s a lot but I’m able to balance it with school.”

Last week was one of the payoffs for the long nights and frequent trips to Hasbrouck Heights to train with throwing coach John Valenti.

First came some heroics in flag football, where Iacono scored the only touchdown in a win over Ridgefield. It wasn’t at quarterback or her defensive spot at free safety, but on a punt return in the second half.

“One of her biggest strengths is her IQ and sport knowledge,” Lyndhurst flag football coach TJ Kroncke said. “She pays attention. She watches. She listens. Everything she does is methodical.”

Iacono followed it up days later in the Bergen County track championships at Old Tappan. By throwing 35.8½ in the shot put, Iacono won the Group C title and finished second across all athletes.

In some ways, the victory was the missing link for Iacono. She won a sectional title last spring, then a division crown last month with a personal record 35-11.

“All Nikalena has done is work her tail off like a maniac at shot put,” Lyndhurst track coach Rich Tuero said. “So for her to finally win this event meant so much to her.”

On the track, Iacono is working to make up for lost time. Growing up, she invested her hours each spring in softball, playing with the New Jersey Sparks club team and making the Lyndhurst varsity as a freshman.

However, Iacono had an epiphany after signing up for winter track and excelling as a rookie in the shot put. She ditched the diamond for spring track as a sophomore.

“It’s probably been the best decision I’ve ever made,” Iacono said.

While Iacono considers the shot put her specialty, she’s made a point to become a more well-rounded thrower. This spring, she finished top-four in her division in both javelin and discus.

“I actually had the conversation with her on Saturday,” Tuero said. “I said, ‘hey, you’re going to be the big dog in all three next year.'”

It isn’t Tuero’s first premonition about Iacono. The first time they met was at the Lyndhurst Middle School in 2022, when Tuero was starting up the Lyndhurst flag football program and Iacono was in eighth grade. An assistant coach told Tuero about a strong-armed athlete he had to see.

“My first interaction with Nikalena was her throwing me a 40-yard pass,” Tuero said. “I knew when she got to high school, she was going to be the quarterback.”

Iacono made good on that promise, becoming the QB1 as a freshman with Lyndhurst graduating its starter from the previous year.

Although managing the spring calendar can be stressful, Iacono said her coaches have been accommodating.

“I can’t stress enough to get involved in anything you can, sports or school clubs,” Iacono said. “I think the more you do, the better. I think doing more adds so much more to you as a person and an athlete.”