Bryce Thompson. (Photo by Danny Parker)
BY MIKE BLACKERBY
Farragut thrower Bryce Thompson just continues to raise the bar in spectacular fashion in his specialty.
Thompson’s record-setting shot put mark of 65 feet, 10.5 inches won the event by more than 13 feet.
The toss went so far it cleared the end of the throwing pit on the fly.
“I was just glad to be able to see him do that,” said Farragut coach Chelsea Osborne.
“It’s exciting to see him go back to the state (in the shot put) as a junior.”
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The 5-foot-11, 225-pound Thompson won the state shot put a year ago with a toss of 57-11.5.
The top four individual and relay finishers from sectionals qualified for the state meet later this month in Murfreesboro.
Thompson will be a solid favorite to repeat in the shot put at the state meet, especially with his meteoric improvement since last season.
“He is just motivated,” said Osborne.
“He’s a technical kid that also works hard, and he’s that perfect teammate.”
Thompson made it a sweep in the weight events Saturday as he also took the discus with a throw of 159-10.
“He’s making progress in the discus too,” said Osborne.
Despite Thompson’s efforts, the Admirals fell just short in their bid to repeat as sectional team winners.
Science Hill, with its bevy of sprinters, totaled 123 points to finish in front of Farragut (97.5), Dobyns-Bennett (92) Maryville (71), Hardin Valley (51) and Jefferson County (43).
Distance runner Braden Ebbert and jumper Max Smydra joined joined Thompson in the winner’s circle for Farragut.
Ebbert ran 9:11.52 to take the sectional 3200.
Smydra marked 44-04 to win the triple jump.
The story for the girls was a repeat team victory for Maryville and another strong all-around individual performance by versatile Savannah Darnell of William Blount.
The Lady Rebels, who won the 400 and 800 sprint relays, notched 100.5 points to edge Dobyns-Bennett (86) and Hardin Valley (84).
Science Hill and Jefferson County scored 67 points to tie for fourth. Farragut was sixth with 57.
Darnell won the 100 in 12.06 and the 200 in 24.71 in narrow decisions over Seven Pettus of Oak Ridge.
She also won the 300 hurdles in 45.60.
Darnell added a second in the high jump as she cleared 5-02.
Gracie Waite of Hardin Valley was another double winner in the field events as she took first in the shot put (43-04.75) and discus (117-0).
Other local girls who took first places Saturday were Katie Edmunds of Farragut in the pole vault (10-06), Aja Snodgrass of Jefferson County in the long jump (16-10.25) and Isabella Malone of Sevier County in the 800.