By: Neil Hay
Amanda Marshall is ready to turn the page. After four years of high school, it is time to move on. Next stop: the University of Delaware.
After a stellar career as one of the state’s best field athletes, Marshall is about to head south down I-95. Soon she will take up residence at Delaware, as a member of the women’s track and field team.
"I am looking forward to college," said the Hightstown High School senior. Marshall will become part of coach Larry Pratt’s team, Beginning in the winter and through the spring season Marshall will compete in four events: the shot, hammer, discus and weight.
"I am really excited to start all over. I am looking forward to that. I joined a gym (Tuesday) because the workout routine is crazy intense."
Before she picks up her diploma at the high school’s upcoming graduation, Marshall claimed the prestigious Female Athlete of the Year award at the annual Hightstown sports night. She was also (with Jessica Haughton) co-winner of the spring track MVP award.
Going in, it would seem that Marshall would be a lock for the top prize at the awards ceremony. Still, when she heard her name called, a flurry of emotions ran through her.
"I was real excited," Marshall said. "I really wanted that. I was surprised and happy. All these feelings came through."
With last Wednesday’s state Meet of Champions, Marshall closed out her outstanding career at Hightstown. Among the highlights: fourth in the discus (125-10) at the Meet of Champions; second in the discus (128-0) at the Group III championship; seconds at the Central Jersey Group III meet in the discus (131-6, a new school record) and shot (39 2-1/2); and county champion in the shot and discus. During the indoor season Marshall was Group III champion in the shot and second at the Meet of Champions.
"Overall I was pleased with my career," said Marshall. One of the phases of the discus that she started to get familiar with was the spin, that part of the technique that allows the athlete to develop momentum prior to the release of the disc and helps generate additional distance on the throw.
Said Marshall of her discus performance at the Meet of Champions, on a very hot and humid day, "I felt good, I felt everything worked to go right. My first throw was my best. I was ranked fourth going in and I placed fourth. I was hoping for first or second, but I’ll take fourth. I was pleased."
Being a senior, Marshall had to contend with a conflict that had plagued many Hightstown track and field athletes in the past: going to the prom or Friday night’s Group III meet. Had she opted to skip the Friday (or Saturday) competition in favor of the prom, her fine career would have ended on a sour note. On the other hand, could she miss the prom, one of the highlights of her senior year? Decisions, decisions. Finally Marshall made the Solomon-like choice: compete and arrive fashionably late at the prom. It was not easy, but she made it work.
"It was not really a problem," said Marshall of going to the prom, albeit arriving late and having an abbreviated celebration. "I was kind of mad while at the Group III meet, knowing that all my friends were at the prom and I was at the meet. But I’m glad I stayed. Track is more important. I still made it there, although I was two and a half hours late."
Marshall had to return to south Jersey the next day for the Group III shot put. The after-effects of the prom, plus all the rushing around, to and from, finally took its toll on the second day of the competition.
"The next day I was tired, the throwing circle was wet, and it was a bad day for me," said Marshall, who failed to qualify for the Meet of Champions. "I was really disappointed.
"The prom should be moved" to avoid such conflicts, said Marshall. "It is not fair to the athletes to choose. Most will choose to go to the prom. It is not fair to pay $60 for a prom ticket, plus all the expenses of getting ready, then not getting to go for the whole thing."
Now that it is over, with one chapter closing and another beginning, Marshall had a chance to express her feelings about this important stage in her life.
"It is kind of a little relief. But it is also sad. It’s a relief that it is over, but it is sad because I will miss my friends, my team, and throwing in high school. I will really miss Mr. (Don) Hess," the Rams’ spring coach. "He is the best coach I ever had. He is like a best friend but also the best teacher and mentor. He really helped me a lot, and pushed me. He stayed with me until the end at the meets. He spent extra time with me."
For his part, Hess considered Marshall a special athlete and person in her own right.
"Here is a girl who never missed a practice, who was a real competitor since her freshman year, who was working hard and training to get better. We added it up and she broke the school record for most career points by a girl (742). We thought that was unbreakable. She did everything she could for the team. I can’t say enough about her."
Amanda Marshall will miss Hightstown. And she will be missed. But it seems that, sometime soon, Amanda Marshall will be heard from again.
