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Photo by Elliot J. Sutherland/The Ottawa Herald
Ottawa High School senior Sam Blecha throws the shot put Friday afternoon at Ottawa University during the 2008 4A Regional Track and Field Meet. Blecha took first place in the shot with a throw of 53:9:5.
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Athletes toss their way to state meet
By GREG MAST, Herald Sports Editor
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Kearsten Peoples sits alone at the top of the all-time best in the state of Kansas in the girls shot put.
The Ottawa High School sophomore tossed the shot put 49 feet, 10.5 inches, which broke the previous all-time state best mark of 49-3.5 set by Pinkie Suggs of Manhattan in 1982, at a 4A regional at Ottawa University.
Peoples had everything working in the ring and the results showed it. She had another toss of 47-6, which was good enough for third in state history.
“She had quick feet,” Ottawa throwers coach Evan Shaffer said. “I did not think I would coach a 50-foot girl shot putter. That was the best I have seen her in the ring. She was feeling it.”
Peoples said everything felt smooth in the ring.
“It just happened,” she said. “It is coming together. Everybody told me it was possible.
“I can do better.”
Shaffer said Peoples is beginning to recognize her mistakes and correct them.
“She has been consistent,” Shaffer said.
Peoples was not the only standout as Ottawa qualified five athletes for the state meet.
Peoples will compete in the shot put and discus, where she finished second at 123-1, which was a season best.
Kara McFarland won the discus at 131-5 and qualified for state for the third straight year.
Sam Blecha won the boys shot put at 53-9.5 to qualify for the third time. Brandon Turner was third in the shot put at 50-5.75. It is his second state appearance.
Sophomore Eric Messenger was fourth in the 800-meter race at 2 minutes, 2 seconds.
Other Ottawa placers were Turner, sixth in the discus at 133-3 and Jamie Allen, sixth in the javelin at 109-10.
Shaffer said the four throwers came in with a business-like attitude.
“They took care of business,” he said. “They got themselves ready to go.”
Peoples said the four throwers are like a “little family.”
“We learn from each other,” she said. “It would be so different if we were not together. It will be fun at state.”
Rockers state boundAnderson County freshman Paige Rockers will be the only Bulldog representative at state.
She was runner-up in the girls triple jump at 33-9.5.
Elaine Tastove finished fifth in the 300 hurdles at 49.26.
Girls team scoresBaldwin 75.2, Eudora 70, De Soto 64, Paola 62.6, Louisburg 54.4, Fort Scott 43, SFT 35.2, Chanute 35.2, Girard 30.8, Ottawa 29, Iola 27, Anderson County 12, Prairie View 8.6, Osawatomie 8, Burlington 2, Spring Hill 1.
Boys team scoresPaola 95, De Soto 85.5, Louisburg 72.5, Fort Scott 55, Baldwin 45, Chanute 45, Girard 39, Osawatomie 31.5, Eudora 24.5, Iola 23, Ottawa 23, SFT 14, Spring Hill 4, Burlington 1.
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