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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hutchinson gives it her best shot

Mead thrower extends school record to 45-1

Courtney Hutchinson is in the best shape of her life, and that explains why the usually stoic Mead thrower had an ear-to-ear smile Thursday afternoon.

Hutchinson broke her school record in the shot put, pushing the implement 45 feet, 1 inch in a Greater Spokane League dual track meet at Shadle Park’s remodeled track.

She’s 5 feet ahead of her pace a year ago.

Hutchinson’s throw came on her first attempt.

“I’ve been hitting 44 consistently in practice this week,” Hutchinson said. “Last year at this time I was hitting 36s. I changed my technique during the summer.”

Hutchinson, a junior, still does the traditional glide to start her turn into the throw, but she’s now drifting farther into the pit.

“Before I was stopping too short,” Hutchinson said. “They call it getting your feet under you.”

She supported her consistency by throwing 43-5 on her second throw. Her personal best prior to Thursday came when she captured a state championship last year (43-11).

Hutchinson didn’t eclipse 40 feet last year until the Pasco Invite, which she won. She returns to Pasco on Saturday to defend her title.

She credits much of her improvement to work in the weight room.

“I wasn’t as dedicated to lifting weights last year,” she said.

Increased strength and weight loss provided what she called “awkward” moments last spring as her body adjusted to change.

“I wasn’t used to my body, you could say,” Hutchinson said. “It finally started coming together at the end of the year.”

Mead coach Dori Whitford was impressed.

“That was pretty cool, because she doesn’t get excited easily,” Whitford said. “She’s worked really hard.”

Hutchinson’s win in the shot and second in the discus helped the Panthers remain unbeaten in league at 4-0. Mead topped Shadle 91-59 and University 107.5-42.5. Shadle edged U-Hi 82-68.

The Panthers won nine events.

Hutchinson set the bar high this year.

“I want to hit 50,” she said. “Forty-five is nice. I’m happy for this time of the year, but I want 50.”

Mead sprint specialist Wes Bailey was part of four wins. He cruised to individual wins in the 100 meters (10.94) and 400 (49.70), teamed with Evan Maack, Austin Stone and Gunnar Kayser in the 400 relay (42.98) and anchored the 1,600 relay (3:31.64).

The Panthers had no difficulty moving to 4-0 in league with win over U-Hi (84-61) and Shadle (95-50). U-Hi topped Shadle 81-64.

Long-distance aces Nathan Weitz of Shadle and Andrew Gardner of Mead used the meet Thursday as final training for Pasco where they’ll go head-to-head in the 3,200.

Weitz captured the 1,600 (4:20.70) while Gardner doubled in the 800 (1:57.76) and 3,200 (9:47.51). Gardner, who usually doesn’t run the 800, used a strong kick to come back from 30 meters behind in the final 200.

“I was just trying to get loose for Pasco,” Weitz said. “Both Andrew and I want to get under the 9-minute barrier in the 3,200.”

Weitz has his sights set ultimately on the Highlanders’ record – 8:55.36 set by Michael Kiter in 2001.

“We’re each just doing the 3,200 (Saturday) so we’ll be as fresh as possible,” Weitz said.

It will be the first 3,200 this season for both.

“We’re going to take turns pushing each other,” Weitz said.