Hampton-Dumont-CAL junior Charlee Morton won her second consecutive Drake Relays shot put title Thursday.
“It feels great to go back-to-back,” Morton says. “Last year I was in complete shock that I even won just because I had no expectations, but winning this year feels even more great because it shows I can prove myself to everybody and show it wasn’t just like a one year, it’s two years and I’m hoping to do it again next year and it just feels really really great.”
Morton’s first throw of the day, 41-04, ultimately was the winning throw. She held the lead throughout the first round and finals, and says she was thankful for the strong start.
“Coming in, I wanted to throw a new PR or throw like 43, 44, and that didn’t happen, but I’m so glad I started off strong just because that kind of was our goal to. Because usually I start with a step in, so that’s half of the spin, and I just changed it to doing folds the whole time. And now I’m more confident doing that all the time because I know I can start off strong with my first throw, and hopefully in the next meets, I keep on progressing that throw.”
In her third straight year of qualifying, AGWSR senior Abby Veld placed sixth. She achieved the mark in her fifth throw after advancing to the finals with a 38-10.75.
“I’m really proud of my performance,” Veld says. “It was my goal to get back into the finals, finish higher than I did last year, which was 10th. We accomplished that goal and I’m feeling great.”
Veld and Morton will also compete in Friday’s discus throw.
“I’m really confident for discus. It’s kind of the thing where I don’t have as much pressure as I do in shot put to be good. So I’m just ready for it. I’m relaxed. I’m really excited. I want to get into finals over there again. It’s going to be kind of crummy weather, I’ve heard. But, you know, we’ll just power through it, do what we can.”
The girls discus will be at 8:30 a.m. Friday. Veld will compete in the event for the first time, and Morton will look to defend last year’s title.
