Subhanna wins shot at Mercer County meet
By Rich Fisher, Sports Editor
Subhanna Wrights has come a long way in a short time.
The Lawrence High senior first picked up a shot put as a junior. One year later, she has picked up a gold medal as the Mercer County Track & Field champion.
This past Saturday at Steinert High School, Wrights throw of 37 feet, 9.75 inches on her second attempt held up through the finals as she beat out Hamilton standout Jocelyn Williams by ¼ of an inch.
When asked if she thought she had it in her, Wrights laughed.
”Honestly, no,” she said. “I was really surprised. Her PR (personal record) was better than mine and it came down to the very last throw with her.”
Wrights said she was calm while watching Williams make her final attempt.
”I wasn’t really nervous,” she said. “I was just like ‘Well I did my best, I hope my best can win.’ I still wanted her to do good. I don’t want to beat her on a bad day.”
It turned out to be a very good day for Wrights, who could only reach 30-7 as a PR last spring. This year she has broken 38 feet. During the indoor season, she took fourth in the counties with a throw of 33-10.
”I’ve come pretty far since last year,” Wrights said. “I’ve been working out hard, lifting a lot more, getting more sleep. I’m taking it a little more serious, but I still have fun with it.”
Wrights’ began throwing the shot at the suggestion of head coach Tim Collins last year, but Collins gives credit to other coaches for her success.
”Nate Jones does a great job with our girls throwers,” Collins said. “We’ve also been fortunate to have a volunteer assistant throws coach, Chinnel Duke. Our throws program has turned completely around from last year, when we were not very strong; to this year, where we are one of the best girls throws programs in Mercer County.
”Subhanna was one of the favorites going into the meet. She’s been throwing outstanding the past few weeks. She’s an extremely hard worker this year, the last one out of the weight room.”
Wrights became Lawrence’s first Mercer County girls champion in five years, according to Collins. The last one was also in the shot put.
Wrights’ success has prompted her to continue in the sport after high school. Next year she is going to St. Elizabeth College in Morristown. Since they do not have an athletic program, she is allowed to throw the shot and discus for Division III FDU-Madison.
But first she has the sectionals, and hopefully beyond, to be concerned with.
”I’m looking forward to that,” she said. “This gives me a lot of confidence.”
The Cardinals had two other place winners as well, as Stacey Adamcik took fourth in the 400 hurdles (1:06.73) and Imani Hobby finished sixth in the triple jump (32-10.5). Asia Dowers just missed placing in the shot, taking a seventh in 32-6.75 while Tracey Kremer was seventh in the javelin (86-9).
”Imani PR’d in the trials to make the finals, and was behind a half inch before getting a PR again in the final to claim the last scoring spot,” Collins said. “It was an incredible performance at a championship meet. Unexpected but well deserved.
Stacy Adamcik improved four seconds from last year’s personal best in the past several meets. She PR’d in the Mercer meet again. She’s a hard worker and a great leader.”
The coach also had praise for 800 runners Rebecca Scardelletti, a sophomore, and Lindsey Freitag, a freshman. The two finished 9th and 11th, breaking their PRs by three seconds.
The Cardinal boys did not have a champion, but got another big day from senior Ethan Posey. The Dartmouth-bound standout finished third in the shot put with a throw of 50-½ and finished fourth in the discus in 140-8.
Tommy O’Rourke had a fourth-place finish in the 800 (1;56.82) and Eric Wallace was sixth in the 400 hurdles (58.75).
In the 4×100 relay, which did not count toward the team standings, Lawrence took sixth as Wallace, Jihad Bryant, Dashawn Journigan and Mikael Hobby combined for a 46.52.