By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– After years of hard work, Jefferson’s Teddy Gorman has finally punched his ticket to Hayward Field and is heading to the 3A State Track and Field Meet.
The accomplishment came Day 1 of the 3A Special District 3 Meet at Blanchet Catholic High School, in an event he just picked up doing last year:
The Shot Put.
After finishing 19th in the event at the District Meet last year, throwing 33-feet-11.25-inches, He put in the work to boost those numbers…and it worked.
He was hovering around 39 to 42 feet all year, and then he broke through that glass ceiling at the District Meet.
Second throw, he PR’d with a throw of 45-feet-3.75-inches. Fourth throw, he PR’d again by an inch. He was holding off Salem Academy’s Dylan Vancil, who was right on his heels.
Then his final throw. He PR’d again. Throwing an 45-feet-6.5-inches to all but clinched his berth to the State Meet as Blanchet’s James Barnett, who went on to win the District Title in the event, closed out the event.
Gorman was emotional as he leaned up against one of the tree’s by the shot put pit. He accomplished the goal of getting to State. It’s hard to describe the senior puts it, comparing this feeling, this moment to win he finished District Runner-Up in Wrestling
“Just that feeling of adrenaline and the relief that you accomplished something that you’ve been working hard for,” said Gorman. “And all that work paid off…I PR’d by about three feet since my last PR. It’s insane, that much improvement…I’m just speechless right now.”
Day 1 saw a few other finals happen in the Field events. In the Girls Triple Jump final, Dayton’s Nora Sheppard took home the Triple Jump Title as the junior hung around her PR Jump of 34-feet-7.5-inches. Her winning jump was at 34-feet-3-inches on Thursday.
“I’ve been feeling good today, I was a little disappointed that it’s not a PR, but that’s ok, I feel good,” said Sheppard.
Despite the result and coming close to the PR, Sheppard is driven to put in the work this next week to make it happen at State next week.
“Just working hard this next week and make sure I got it all dialed in,” Sheppard said.
Scio’s Jack Forson won the Pole Vault with a jump of 13-feet-1-inch. Blanchet’s Joe Barra finished second with a jump of 12-feet-5.25-inches. Dayton’s Hadley Hughes and Hayden Bell went one-two in the Javelin. Bell PR’d with a throw of 111-feet-2-inches. Jefferson’s Dimetrius Rodriguez and Taft’s Kol Tolan went one-two in the Triple Jump. Tolan PR’d with a jump of 41-feet-8-inches. Taft’s Aido Lupo won the High Jump with Dayton’s Amelia Wytoski finishing second. Hughes also won the Discus with Renatta Diaz-Hermosillo finishing second with a PR Throw of 103-feet-11-inches.
Santiam Christian saw Laynee Adkins-Stewart and Sophie Kalenius go one-two in the 3,000 meter finals with Eagle teammates Diego Zambrano and Tytus Janssen doing the same on the Boys 3,000-meter race.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
