Diné
battles rival to win state shot put championship
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Goodyear
Desert Vista junior Tyson Jones recorded a new PR of 67-06.50
in the boys Division II shot put division. He edged his rival
by over two feet to win this years crown. (photo by
Donovan Quintero - Navajo Times)
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MESA, AZ The state shot put finalist in Division II had
to take a backseat to Tyson Jones and Turner Washington.
As one of the top billings at the Arizona state track meet,
Jones and Washington made it an eventful one on Saturday afternoon
at Mesa Community College. The two best throwers in the state regardless
of class upped the ante as spectators watched this event in suspense.
With the other throwers maxing out in the 50-feet range, the
two behemoths got a few throws out in the mid-60 range.
Washington, a senior at Canyon Del Oro, turned in a personal
best of 65-feet, 1.50 inches in one of his six attempts.
Jones, a Diné with roots in the Window Rock area, did
him one better as he also set a new PR, going 67-06.50.
I think its great that I have someone else that
throws in the 60s with me, Jones said. He (Turner) pushed
me and sometimes hell have that one big throw that will get
him a nice PR so it made me work a little harder to throw farther.
Besides battling Washington for the state crown, the Goodyear
Desert Edge junior had his eye set on breaking the all-time record
of 69-03, which was set in 1958 by Dallas Long, according to the
Arizona Track and Field Record Book.
I still have three track meets left this year and I think
I can break it, said Jones.
Jones said hes not sure if hes going to compete
in the Arizona Meet of Champions, which is set for today at Brophy
College Preparatory School in Phoenix. The MOC invites the top three
placers from all divisions and to make the event competitive they
have reached out to other athletes who are among the top 20 in the
state.
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