Palmyra’s King reigns supreme over discus field at Class 3 girls state track and field championships

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Candra King could see the 40-meter marker and knew her second attempt in the discus finals at the Class 3 girls state track and field championships was close to hitting that distance.

It turns out she was just a whisper away.

“I was hoping it was going to be a 40,” King said. “I really just wanted to reach 40 today.”

Well, 39.95 meters worked just fine.

The Palmyra junior won the discus state championship, clearing the rest of the field by 1.95 meters. King also catapulted herself past two throwers who finished ahead of her at the sectional meet — Bowling Green’s Andrea Korte, who was second at 38 meters, and Centralia’s Ellie Berendzen, who was fourth at 34.33 meters.

“I knew it was in me,” King said. “I know what I’m capable of. The past few meets I haven’t been performing my best or I was getting the distance but it wasn’t staying inside the sector. I kind of figured out what I needed to do this week.”

King finished second in the discus as a sophomore and was competing at Adkins Stadium for the sixth time in her career.

“It felt comfortable to perform there,” King said. “I was just calm today.”

Even after scratching in her first attempt, she remained calm. King threw 39.14 in her second attempt.

“I just needed to get one in so I could really go after it,” King said. “So for the second throw, I really tried to slow down because I was struggling with rushing through my throw.”

It set her up to chase a state title in the finals.

“I was sitting pretty good, so I was feeling pretty comfortable,” King said.

King hit 39.9 meters on her fourth attempt and unleashed her longest throw on the next attempt.

“You just know when it’s going to be good,” King said.

At that point, she was beyond comfortable.

“I was kind of building up momentum,” King said. “It was a great experience.”

So how does it feel to be a state champion?

“Pretty good,” King said.

Then she paused.

“Actually really good,” she said.

King will have the chance to double up Saturday when she competes in the shot put, which she won at sectionals. She also will have the chance to help Palmyra chase a team trophy. The Panthers are in first place with 23 points following the first day of competition.

The Panthers’ Abbey Redd finished second in the pole vault, clearing 3.28 meters. Osage’s Madison Kessler also cleared 3.28, but she did so with fewer misses which gave her the state championship. Palmyra’s Alaina Loman finished fourth, clearing 3.21 meters.

Palmyra’s Carson Hicks placed sixth in the high jump in the Class 3 boys meet, clearing 1.88 meters.

Hannibal’s Ashlin Sharkey placed eighth in the Class 4 javelin with a throw of 49.65 meters.

The remainder of the finals will take place Saturday.

Photos courtesy Will Johnson