On the court, the springy goal keep gets a fraction of a second to decide which direction to leap in an attempt to grab an intercept.
Off it, the 21-year old University of Otago student has been wrestling with a decision that will alter the course of her sporting career.
Thayer has been putting off choosing between pursuing her promising athletics career or sticking with netball.
"That's why I'm still doing both, because I can't decide," she said, when pressed.
"I definitely have a love for both so I'm torn. I was told a couple of years ago I might have to think about making a decision but I've managed to carry on doing both.
"I'm loving netball at the moment. Athletics went on the back burner over winter but I'm going to get straight back into it."
What is making the decision so difficult is Thayer is excelling at both codes.
Earlier this year, she won a silver medal in the women's high jump at the New Zealand track and field championships in Wellington with a jump of 1.6m.
She has also been a nationally ranked pole vaulter but gave that discipline away because of the amount of time and energy it required.
When summer cooled, Thayer switched to netball and is having a terrific season.
The 1.83m-tall defender made her debut for Otago in 2007 and spent most of the past two seasons on the bench.
This year, she is the mainstay of a young defensive end and has paid back the selectors with two superb performances.
Unfortunately, they have been in losing efforts but Thayer will get an opportunity to change that when Otago plays Western in a must-win match in Palmerston North today .
"This weekend will be a good challenge for us. We really can't afford to lose it," she said.
Otago lost its opening matches to Auckland, 62-42, and Southland, 53-43, and probably needs to win its next three matches to make the top four.
Western also needs a win to keep its title prospects afloat.
It was thumped 53-33 by Southland in Palmerston North in round one but improved last week, losing 60-58 to Canterbury in Christchurch.
Western has a useful-looking side with experienced campaigner Jodi Beaumont anchoring the defence and promising shooters in Te Paea Selby-Rickit and Amber Bellringer.
Former Otago player Sam Durie-Aranga will combine in a solid midcourt which includes Lauren Burgess and skipper Kylee Webb.
Former Otago Rebels shooter Chantelle Ngaia is struggling with an ankle injury and may be forced to the sideline.
Otago was without former Silver Ferns shooter Jodi Brown in the loss to Southland last weekend.
Brown was ruled out with a thigh strain but trained earlier in the week and coach Nicola Jones is hopeful she will be fit for the game.
