With the State Meet just 3 weeks away, it is time to highlight some of the athletes who can challenge for the KHSAA Class 1A Track and Field State Championship. In this week's edition, we will focus on the Class 1A throwers and pole vaulters. Regardless of the current season best, this article highlights returners who will challenge for it all.
Discus
The first athlete who will challenge for the Discus State Championship this year is Kira Johnson of Louisville Collegiate. The Senior has looked unbeatable in the Class 1A ranks this season winning 7 of her 8 meets. She also is the top returner from the 2022 KHSAA Class 1A Track and Field State Championship. If nothing goes wrong, Johnson should win the State Championship this season and is definitely the favorite to win.
However, there are several athletes that can challenge her. The first of these athletes is Peyton Goodman from Brown. The senior finished 7th last year at the State Meet, but has thrown the distance that would have landed her 2nd at the State Meet last season. She is sure fire podium threat and could bring home her first State Championship.
The third athlete on this list is Baylee Davidson of Leslie County. Davidson finished just behind Goodman at last year's State Championship. Davidson is also tied with Goodman in terms of distance thrown this season as both are tied for second. Like Goodman, Davidson is also a podium threat and could find herself in contention to win her first State Championship.
Shot Put
The first athlete who will challenge for the State Championship in the Shot Put is also Kira Johnson from Louisville Collegiate. The Senior has been dominant here as well winning 3 of her 4 meets in this event. Johnson won this event at the KTCCCA Class 1A Indoor Championship and finished 3rd last year at the Outdoor State Championship. Like the discuss, Johnson is the favorite to win the shot put this season and should claim her first State Championship.
The next athlete on this list has performed very well this season. Rylee Theiss of Pikeville currently has the second farthest throw in Class 1A this season just 1 inch behind Johnson's mark. Theiss also finished right behind Johnson at last season's State Championship taking 4th place. Only a junior, Theiss will be a threat to win this event over the next two seasons and should be a name that everyone looks out for.
The final athlete on this list is Andora Riley of Newport. The Sophomore currently has the third farthest throw in Class 1A this season. As a Freshman last season, Riley finished 7th overall and 4th among returners at the State Championship. Like Theiss, Riley will be someone to watch over the next three seasons and will be a threat to claim not just one, but several State Championships in her career.
Pole Vault
An interesting inclusion in this article, the pole vault mixes speed with strength and is one of the more technical events in all of Track and Field. Here are the athletes who will compete for the State Championship this season.
The first athlete on this list is Cate Coppola from Green County. The Sophomore is the defending State Champion in this event clearing 9 feet 6 inches last season. Coppola continued that momentum by dominating the Indoor season claiming another State Championship in the pole vault with an easy 9 foot vault. This season, Coppola has looked even more dominant vaulting an impressive 10 feet 6 inches this season. If Coppola repeats this performance, she should repeat as the Class 1A Pole Vault Champion and continue dominating for years to come.
The second athlete on this list is Aubrey Graves from Monroe County. Last season, Graves finished 2nd to Coppola at the State Championship clearing an even 9 feet. She has continued this season vaulting an impressive 9 feet 9 inches. As a Senior, this will be her last chance to win a State Championship and that desperation could vault her to the top spot where she could claim her first State Championship.
The third and final athlete on this list is Ansley Ova Turner from Monroe County. As an 8th grader last season, Turner finished 3rd on attempts at the State Championship tying with Graves. This season, Turner has cleared 9 feet 6 inches and will be a threat for many years to come. Over the next three seasons, expect Turner and Coppola to be right at the top battling it out for many State Championships.