With the State Meet just 2 weeks away, it is time to highlight some of the athletes who can challenge for the KHSAA Class 3A Track and Field State Championship. In this week's edition, we will focus on the Class 3A 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 season is Trinity Gottler from Tates Creek. The Senior has dominated 3A in this event this season posting the State leading throw of 140 feet 8 inches besting second by close to 22 feet. Gottler also has State experience as at the 2022 KHSAA Class 3A Track and Field State Championship, she finished 2nd in this event, but 1st among returners. Assuming she performs up to her State leading performance, Gottler should be seen as the favorite to win her first Outdoor State Championship.
The next athlete on this list is Georgia Hall of Marshall County. The Senior currently has the second farthest throw in Class 3A this season. Like Gottler, Hall brings State experience as she finished 16th in this event last season. Entering her final State Championship, expect Hall to give a little extra and potentially challenge Gottler for the State Championship.
The final athlete on this list is Viktoriya Emelianova of Ryle. The Junior will be making her first Outdoor State Championship appearance this season. Emelianova currently has the third farthest throw in Class 3A this season and should push Hall for the Runner-up spot and maybe just have enough to defeat Gottler and claim her first State Championship.
Shot Put
The top two names on this list have been mentioned already in this article as they have shown dominance in both the Shot Put and Discus events. The first of which is Viktoriya Emelianova of Ryle. The Junior has more proficiency in the Shot Put than she does in the discus and put that talent on full display at Brother Borgia where she threw 41 feet 7 inches establishing the current State Lead. Additionally, Emelianova placed 4th at the KTCCCA Class AAA Indoor State Championships in this event. Should she replicate her State leading throw at the State Championship, Emelianova will be the woman to beat as she searches for her first State Championship.
The next athlete on this list is Trinity Gottler of Tates Creek. Gottler is the number one returner from last year's State Championship where she finished 2nd. Gottler built on this performance by winning the Indoor State Championship defeating Emelianova. Gottler currently has the second farthest throw in Class 3A this season and with her experience, should challenge Emelianova to win her first Outdoor State Championship.
The final athlete on this list is Reagan Cheatham of Oldham County. The Senior finished 4th at last season's State Championship, but built on that to claim 2nd at the Indoor State Championship this season. Cheatham currently has the third farthest throw in Class 3A this season and should contend for the Shot Put State Championship at this season's Outdoor State Championship.
Pole Vault
The athlete sitting atop this list is West Jessamine's Lillian Hodge. The Senior and Harvard commit has yet to lose a single pole vault event winning at several big meets including Eastern Relays and AJ's Heart of the Bluegrass. Hodge also was victorious at the Indoor State Championship this season jumping 12 feet 8 inches. Last season, Hodge placed 3rd at the Outdoor State Championships. Hodge currently has the State leading vault of 12 feet 6 inches and has looked very strong. Assuming her Championship performances continue, Hodge will be very tough to defeat at the State Championships this season.
However, if there is one athlete who could defeat her, it would be her teammate Abby Rexford. The Junior placed 4th at the State Championships last season just behind Hodge. Unfortunately for Rexford, since that meet, she has finished right behind Hodge at every meet they have both entered. Rexford does currently have the second highest vault in the State this season and could be primed to upset Hodge at this season's State Championship.
Honorable Mentions
Lacy Willoughby, Freshman, Montgomery County
Eryn Rataiczak, Junior, Eastern