The track and field team had three qualifiers for state completion. The state championships where held May 30 and 31 at University of Louisville.

Unfortunately Bryon Ellis, which had been hampered by a shoulder injury all season, went surgery to correct the issue the Tuesday before state.

This of course withdrew him from the competition, but hopefully he will return next year in better condition to throw to his highest level.

Derek Thomas qualified in the high jump and Ashley Wilson qualified in the shot put.

Derek Thomas competed on Friday, May 30. While warming up he hurt his already injured knee. Thomas went out on the height of 5’08. This was a huge disappointment for Derek as he jumped 6’02 at regional.

Derek had high hopes of winning the state championship, as he was a middle school state champion in the same event. If Derek had not re-injured his knee there is no doubt that he would have won the event.

The athlete that beat him at regional won the event, and both jumped the same height there only difference was the number of scratches.

Bad things happen to great athletes is what I always said, but he is going to be a junior which means if he gets in rehab and gets his body strong he will be able to return next year and be better than he has been.

I am not disappointed in him, but very proud that he made it this far with the shape his knee and hamstring have been in all year.

He has got to do some physical therapy on both injuries before attempting to do any kind of physical activity at a competitive level.

Ashley Wilson competed on Saturday, May 31.

Ashley was ranked 9th coming into the event, but with high hopes she was going to place high looking back at her best throws of the season.

After the first flight she was in the lead. The second flight threw and she dropped to third place. After the finals we learned that she was remained to hold on to that third place finish.

This was also her birthday, so this was the icing on the cake for her special day.

This was a huge accomplishment for Ashley as she only placed 15th in state last year in the same event.

Ashley was not even going to join the team this year due to the fact that she learned that I made the throwers run at practice.

Thankfully she has a supportive family that believed that a few laps and a couple of strides would not hurt her but increase her performance level. I told her to think about not wanting to join as she stood on the third place spot to receive her medal.

What throwers have to realize is that to be at their best level of performance their entire body needs to be conditioned because power comes from the legs as well as the upper torso area.

I am extremely proud of Ashley and the fact that being third in the state is a huge accomplishment that many people never get the chance to experience. As Ashley gets her upper body stronger and perfects her technique there is no doubt she will place higher than third place next year in the event.