After a consistent junior year capped by a third-place state finish, Satanta javelin thrower Cameron Ross was eyeing elite marks for her senior season.
Ross immediately found the confidence boost she needed in the second meet of the season, unleashing a then-state-best throw of 152 feet, 2.25 inches at the K-State Relays.
The big throw set the tone for an impressive campaign for Ross, who has topped 144 feet two more times since the K-State meet.
“Getting past 150 just made me feel like I wasn’t stuck anymore,” Ross said. “I felt like I had been stuck in the 130s for so long, and then finally got there.
“I had a lot of supporters around me. It was really nice.”
Ross, who has signed to throw at Fort Hays State, is coming off a meet-record throw of 146-10 at the Bob Haug Hodgeman County Invitational on Tuesday in Jetmore. She’s undefeated in the event this season.
“I've been working on my last three steps, and keeping it by my eye and just speeding up — just the little things,” Ross said. “Once you get the main thing down, you really just have to tweak the little things. And it all clicks together usually.
“It’s been really fun. I feel like the pressure is off after being committed and everything. I’m just enjoying it while it lasts.”
Ross placed eighth at state as a freshman before missing state her sophomore season. She rebounded with a solid junior season, winning her first five meets.
Ross is also a standout volleyball player and initially planned on pursuing that sport in college.
“I never really considered javelin,” Ross said. “I’ve always loved volleyball. And then I just got introduced to javelin my freshman year, kind of joking around. Then my junior and senior year, I just really fell in love with it.
“I was still kind of in between, trying to figure out what would be best for my future. But overall, I chose javelin because it comes with a good scholarship and I just love Hays.”
Ross’ 152-2.25 remained the top throw in all classes this spring until Paige Stanfield threw 156-8 last week at the De Soto Invitational.
At state last year, Ross threw a 133-1, finishing behind Washington County’s Jessi Hoover (154-7) and Hodgeman County’s Kalyn Washburn (138-7), who have both graduated. This year, the next-best 1A throw after Ross belongs to Madison’s Molly Daniels at 128-9.
“I’m pretty hopeful,” Ross said. “I got third last year and in front of me were two seniors. Even last year before I threw my really big throw, I was hopeful. But now I feel like I’m a little more confident as well.”
OTHER WESTERN KANSAS GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD STANDOUTS
– Ellis’ Evelyn Merriman ran a personal-best 12.21 in the 100-meter dash at the Kaser Relays at Osborne for the second-best Class 1A time this season behind a 12.20 from Clifton-Clyde’s Sevy Wurtz.
– After winning triple gold at state last year as a freshman, Ellinwood’s Reagan Wirtz is among the state leaders in the 100, 200 and long jump. Wirtz has the fourth-best long jump mark in all classes at 19-3.75. She has the top Class 2A time in the 100 at 12.28 and the third-best 200 time in 2A at 25.84.
– Hoxie’s Camryn Gourley has recently recorded personal bests in four different events — the 100 (12.32), 200 (25.87), 100 hurdles (14.56) and 300 hurdles (45.66). Gourley’s 14.56 came at the Quinter Invitational last week. It’s the third-best 100 hurdles time in all classes this season. Gourley’s 300 hurdles time is among the top 10 in all classes and the best in Class 2A. She also has the second-best 100 time in 2A and the fourth-best 200 time.
– Ness City’s Taegin Liggett has put her versatility on full display this season. The senior is among the state leaders in six different events. Liggett has the fourth-best time in all classes in the 400 with a 57.75 and the fifth-best marks in both the long jump (19-2.50) and triple jump (37-11). She also has the top 1A times in the 200 (25.45) and 300 hurdles (45.98). Liggett also has the fourth-best time in 1A in the 100 (12.34), where she is the reigning state champion.
– Lakin’s Aryn Michaelis has the top 3A mark in the triple jump at 37-9, which ranks seventh in all classes. Michaelis has the fifth-best time in 3A in the 100 hurdles (15.45) and the fourth-best high jump clearance in 3A (5-4).
– Hays’ Sydney Lewellen has a top-10 time in all classes in the 400 at 58.26. That time ranks second in Class 5A.
– Hays’ Lyndi Zimmerman has the fourth-best 100 hurdles time in all classes at 14.59. Zimmerman also has the second-best 5A time in the 100 at 12.20.
– Smith Center’s Madison Howland has the second-best 3,200 time in Class 2A at 11:22.54 and the third-best 1,600 time in 2A at 5:15.63. Howland is the reigning Class 2A state champion in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.
– Dighton’s Lani Speer owns the top Class 1A time in the 100 hurdles at 15.89.
– Syracuse’s Bronwyn Lewis, the defending Class 2A state champion, has the fifth-best pole vault clearance in the state at 11-9.
– South Gray’s Jacee Deges has the top pole vault mark in Class 1A at 11-0.
– Liberal’s NaZiah Williams has the fifth-best discus throw in all classes at 143-4.
– Wallace County’s Lyla Pearce has the second-best discus throw in Class 1A at 129-11.
– Reigning state champion Avery Boydston from Ellis has the top Class 1A time in the 1,600 at 5:13.74.