BEST EVER Jelmini shatters US high school record in discus, climbs to No. 2 in shot put
| Wednesday, May 13 2009 10:23 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, May 13 2009 10:23 PM
Move over, nation. Shafter's very own Anna Jelmini is now the best high school discus thrower of all time.
Jelmini continued her magical senior season Wednesday with a 190-foot, 3-inch discus toss at the Central Section Sierra/Sequoia Division meet at Oakhurst-Yosemite High School. That gives her the national record over Suzy Powell, who threw 188-5 in 1994 for Modesto-Downey.
"She's been having tremendous practices," Shafter throwing coach Matt Godbehere said. "She's on in the discus."
Jelmini had been tied with Powell before Wednesday.
"It's great," Jelmini said. "I just wanted to get the record for myself. My goal this year was 190, and I'm really excited."
Godbehere said that though he expected strong winds in Oakhurst, they didn't show and Jelmini's discus toss was basically unaided by the wind.
Before she'd done that, Jelmini had already blown away her personal record in the shot put, putting up a 54-4.75 after throws of 54-2.75 and 53-10.5. Her previous best was 52-3 at last week's South Sequoia League Championships.
"I don't want to sound arrogant, but I knew she was ready for this," Godbehere said. "She had a rough week of practice in the shot, to be honest, but when she threw the 52-3, she was way behind the board. So I knew she could go farther."
Jelmini, the defending state champion in both events who's signed to throw at Arizona State, now trails only Michelle Carter of Red Oak (Texas) High School, who threw 54-10.75 in 2003. Carter won the U.S. Olympic Trials last year.
As for the discus, there is now no other high schooler to chase.
"I'm just going to keep training and trying to improve that mark," Jelmini said.
