The Throwers Delivered!	Freshman Natalie Baird of Park View took the 24 year old state record on her third throw with a monstrous throw of 139'11". Kevin Boggs of Warren County won the boys discus with a throw of 165'6". Jordan Purvis of Waynesboro won a close competition with a throw of 56' 2". Rachel Campbell of Liberty Bealton capped her senior year with two state (indoor and outdoor) championships with a throw of 42'. The highlighted competition the girls discus as four 130plus throwers came into the meet. After the dust settled ALL eight placing throwers were over 120ft. with four over 130ft. Awesome. Two freshman and a junior return next year to continue the strongest discus throws group in the history of AA. Baird, Rebecca Mikulas of Lord Botetourt and Jeneva McCall of Bassett were all over 130 feet. Add All-Staters juniors Zachlyn Blackburn of Tazwell, Carly Morse of Liberty, Blair Brown of Loudon Valley and 9th place freshman Sarah Hamilton of Harrisonburg and you've got a 120 club that will rock the '06 state championship. In the other featured competiton, the Boys Shot put saw ALL 8 finishers over 50ft for the first time in many years of AA throwing. Jordan Purvis launched a career PR of 56' 2 inches while Erik Lindamood of Liberty, Jarrod Burton of Tazewell lurked all day at 52 feet. Day two saw the girls shot put winner Rachel Clark going throw for throw with junior R.E. Lee's Kristen Crawford. Clark finally hit 42' in the end to equal her footage distance from February (an indoor meet record). The rest of the field see-sawed back and forth around 36 feet to finish the pack. Freshman Kimberly Jones of Heritage Lynchburg is the future in the girls shot. The boys discus field of juniors and seniors chased Boggs through the rounds. Lindamood of Liberty, Ball of Handley and Rexrode of Turner Ashby had finals throws to finish near the top. Alex Ball of Handley will return next year with a 150plus throw to lead the AA field. All in all, an exceptional weekend for throw fans at JMU, and the promise of more elite action next season.
The girls All-State 120ft. club
The Boys Discus Top Three ~Lindamood ~ Boggs ~ Ball
Girls Shot Put All-States (a bunch of basketball'rs and one very good softball player!)
The AA 130 foot club trying to look gansta for the camera.
Mikulas will be back.	The champion thanks acknowledges the crowd.
JMU's discus/hammer circle is unique... great for throw fans.	The Valley once again strong in the Boys shot.
Tall and wide, relaxed out of the back.	A good sweep to the center loads up the hips.
Great flexibility creates a long pull.	Good balanced power position, still wide and tall with hips leading the way.
The left side pulls the right, jumping at the front of the circle... Baird's form is way beyond the technique level of a typical freshman.	USATF officials certify the 139' 11"mark as the flight recorder ('03 State AA/'04 CAA Discus Champion Jen Showker) looks on.
Getting in "The Throw Zone"... much different then march madness for state AA basketball champ Amber Showalter.	Liberty Bealton's Throwing gang was impressive.
The Boys Shot Put was close during prelims.	Brown placed in the discus and the high jump... a future collegiate Heptathlete?
For Junior Zachlyn Blackburn, a determined look at the discus...	...nothing but grins in the infield.
As great as the discus area is... the shot area is way too small for the throng of fans that come to watch the shot competition. This gallery was packed.
Freshman Sarah Hamilton will carry on the Valley tradition.	From the "throwfan" to Virginia's great crop of throwers... "Heads up or Heads Off" ~ Thanks for a great season!