Some heat in the shot

RATHDRUM — Things got heated up late on Saturday afternoon.

And the weather was warm also.

In the men’s shot put — and well as the high school boys shot put — competitors pushed each other to their limits, and the estimated 300 fans to the edge of their seats during the third IronWood Throws Classic at the IronWood Training Center.

Johnathan Jones, who won an NCAA title in 2015 for the University of Buffalo, outlasted Curtis Jensen, who attended Illinois State, by just over a foot for the title, winning with a mark of 68 feet, 8 3/4 inches.

Meanwhile, Turner Washington, already a champion of the discus in the Classic on Friday, clipped Coeur d’Alene High’s Grady Leonard again in the high school boys shot put, winning by 3 inches.

Jones’ winning mark came on his fourth attempt (out of six), after Jensen took the lead on his second throw of the day.

“We’ve been competing together for a couple of years, really since college,” Jones said. “And we’ve always gone back and forth with each other. It’s always good to have someone to push you like he did today.”

It was Jones’ second time at the competition; he failed to place last year.

“Each year, I’ve had a blast,” Jones said. “The atmosphere, everyone just seems into it. And it really helps us throw far. Just the view is awesome and it’s fun to throw here.”

Leonard took the lead on his second throw of 63-11 1/2, and finished with a best of 64-5 3/4, just short of his personal best of 67-0. Washington’s fifth throw of 64-8 3/4 was the difference.

“I definitely had to step up in the third round,” Leonard said. “But he got the best of me today. He made a good throw and got the win. It was a good competition.”

Leonard will compete next at Junior Nationals June 23-24 in Sacramento.

“I want to stay relaxed and iron out what I need to do,” Leonard said. “But it was a fun meet, and I had a lot of fun. I learned a lot and it was a really good experience this weekend.”

With the crowd clapping and cheering on each thrower as the event went on, Washington found his distance late.

“For me, shot is always off energy in the meet and playing off the crowd,” said Washington, an Arizona signee who prepped in the state. “When I’m chasing someone, it really helps me do a better job throwing. There were just some things I was missing in the previous throws. I was able to put something better in the final couple of throws.”

You’ll have to excuse Kathleen Young of Warrensburg, Ill., if she’s a little tired this morning.

She put in some work this weekend, competing — and shining — in three of four events at the Classic, finishing second in the high school girls hammer throw, and winning the shot put.

“It’s really hard to be able to PR in two events on the same day,” Young said. “After I PR’d in the hammer (with a 172-4) like I did, I went inside and got something to eat and got my energy back up for the shot.”

It worked out in the shot put, with Young hitting a personal best in her first three throws, winning the shot put with a mark of 53 feet, 5 inches.

“After my 53, I was done,” Young said. “I was so tired. It’s so much fun to get to throw with the elite professionals. When they’re getting up there and have their game face on and having them cheer me on, that’s the best part of it.”

Young also finished third in the girls discus on Friday.

“It’s more about the atmosphere of this, it’s so freaking awesome,” Young said. “I just love events like this and get my energy from the crowd. It’s awesome and being second in the country, it’s hard to find ways to push myself. But when you go to a meet like this, where girls throw just as far as you, you get pumped up and want to throw as far as them.”

Brittany Smith, ranked fourth in the shot put in the United States, won the women’s shot put with a throw of 60-7 3/4.

“I was happy with how I threw this weekend,” Smith said. “I’d been having some struggles with some toe board fouls. But the throws, they felt easy today, but they could always be better.”

Chewelah native Will Lohman distanced the field in the men’s hammer throw with a mark of 215 feet.

“It was just about coming out and having a good time,” said Lohman, who began his collegiate career at Boise State before finishing up at Nebraska. “The weather was great. The atmosphere was great. You get a lot of good competitors and fans that come out, and it really makes it easier to go out and kind of relax. Especially being back out here in an area I consider to be home.”

Jeneva Stevens won the women’s hammer with a throw of 234-9 and Evan Hardin won the boys hammer at 193-7.

In the girls hammer, Oregon state high school champion Shelby Moran won at 177-11.

“I was just focusing on tempo and trying to hit 180 (feet),” said Moran, who recently won the Oregon 6A (largest classification) state high school title for Sherwood High in the hammer throw. “With all the trees, the facility really reminded me of Oregon. I was really happy to be able to compete with some of the pro athletes. I got a chance to learn a lot this weekend.”

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS HAMMER — 1, Shelby Moran, 177-11. 2, Kathleen Young, 172-4. 3, Makenli Forrest, 169-10. 4, Sydnee Walker, 165-6.

WOMEN’S HAMMER — 1, Jenava Stevens, 234-9. 2, Jessica Ramsey, 222-5. 3, Heavin Warner, 215-10. 4, Britney Henry, 214-4.

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS HAMMER — 1, Evan Hardin, 193-7. 2, Jason Judge, 176-8.

MEN’S HAMMER — 1, Will Lohman, 215-0. 2, Wyatt Meyring, 192-3. 3, Kyle Rothwell, 190-9. 4, Amani Brown, 183-8.

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SHOT PUT — 1, Kathleen Young, 53-5. 2, Makenli Forrest, 44-10 3/4. 3, Ginny Mehl, 43-11 1/4.

WOMEN’S SHOT PUT — 1, Brittany Smith, 60-7 3/4. 2, Jeneva Stevens, 59-9. 3, Jessica Ramsey, 58-3 1/4. 4, Whitney Ashley, 57-9.

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SHOT PUT — 1, Turner Washington, 64-8 3/4. 2, Grady Leonard, 64-5 3/4. 3, Clayton Hannula, 55-5 3/4.

MEN’S SHOT PUT — 1, Jonathan Jones, 68-8 3/4. 2, Curtis Jensen, 67-10 3/4. 3, David Pless, 66-6. 4, J.C. Murasky, 63-11 1/2.