Throws
The Big Names
_sp_(state_3-4-17).jpg)
Salem is a favorite for the team title and it starts with their 1-2 punch in the throws.
Abbie Antram boasts the second best shot put and weight throw marks among returners, making her an important point scorer for the Quakers. Her 39-6.5 shot put mark has her less than two feet behind the leader among returners and her 43-5 weight throw has her in the same position in that event. Both of the girls ahead of her did not compete at the indoor state meet so, should that trend repeat itself in 2019, Antram could pull off the throws double and pick up an important 20 points for her squad.
Covington's Lauren Christian returns as the top shot putter in the state among indoor returners with the only mark over 40 feet (41-2.5). Although she didn't compete at last year's state meet, she could change that this season and shake up things in both the shot and weight throw. Keep an eye on Christian as we enter March because she could be a contender for the throws double, too. She's already turned in her first career weight mark and a 39-10 shot performance at the Tiffin Indoor Meet #1.
The sixth best returner in the shot and fifth best weight thrower, Van Wert's Kirsten Clay is one of the fiercest competitors in the state in the throws.
With 85 marks over 4 events over the last 3 years, Clay has the seasoning to make a major jump in her junior campaign. Last indoor season, she capped off her sophomore session with 12th and 15th place finishes in the throws at the state meet. With the graduations of several seniors, Clay sits in a position to make a huge jump to top 5 status in both throws events. Keep an eye on Clay this season.
The second part of the Salem 1-2 punch, Caitlyn Marx appears ready to make a major leap in her senior season.
Marx finished fourth last year with a 38-8 mark in the shot put and has seen the graduation of the three girls ahead of her. If her teammate Antram doesn't bring home the individual shot put victory, the Quakers could be picked up by Marx and still snag 10 points from the shot put.
Not to be outdone, she also boasts the sixth best weight throw among returners with her 40-4 mark. She finished 14th in the weight, but should have no problems scoring this season.
Trimble's Breanna Brammer is a sneaky pick to take over the D2/3 throws scene. She returns with a personal best of 38-4.25 in the shot put, but has already topped that in the early December meets with a 38-9 throw at Tiffin Meet #1. She placed 5th at last winter's state meet and is the second best returner among state finishers. She has yet to test out the weight throw in her career, but if 2019 is the first season, with her prowess in the shot and discus (outdoor), we should expect big things from this junior.
The Up-and-Comers
Miller finished 12th at last year's state meet in the shot put and is one of the top returners among sophomores in the event. She threw 36-8 outdoor, improving upon her indoor best of 34-5 by over 2 feet.
Colson is the top returner among sophomores in the shot put with her 34-6.25 personal best. Another one who hasn't tried her hand in the weight throw yet, Colson could be a strong performer in the event after throwing 125-4 in the discus this spring.
_sp_(spire_showcase_2-11-18).jpg)
Rigel has already had a monster start to her indoor campaign, heaving personal bests in the shot put (39-2) and weight throw (43-9.5) in the early December meets. Substituting these marks into the rankings ahead of her 2018 marks, she is now 2nd in the shot put among returners and 2nd in the weight throw. Rigel has set the tone for the rest of her competitors early on and could be on the verge of a major breakout in 2019.
Event To Watch
Shot Put
With the top 10 returners within 7 feet of each other, it really is anyone's bet in the shot put this winter. Lauren Christian leads the way with her 41-2.5 mark, but the top returner from last year's state meet is Salem's Caitlyn Marx. She threw 38-8 last March, but sits at #3 among returners based on personal bests. Her teammate Abbie Antram is a major contender, too, with her 39-6.5 best, even though she finished 8th in 2018.
Related Articles/Videos
- D2-3 Girls Shot Put (OATCCC Indoor Championships Video)