Lessons learned

RATHDRUM — Grady Leonard learned a lot over his time as a redshirt at the University of Nebraska.

Even while taking sixth in the men’s shot put open division, the learning didn’t stop during the fourth IronWood Throws Classic on Saturday at the IronWood Training Center.

“I’ve had a lot of new techniques that I’ve had to learn,” said Leonard, a 2017 Coeur d’Alene High grad. “There’s definitely been a learning curve. We’ll have to see how much I’ve progressed with more competition as this is only my second outdoor event of the season. It was a little different redshirting this year, because I wanted to be out there competing, but it was good so I could learn a few things and be ready for next year.”

Leonard topped out at 16.91 meters (55 feet, 4 1/2 inches) in Saturday’s final event of the weekend.

“This meet is always fun,” said Leonard, who competed in Rathdrum for the second straight year after taking part in the high school division in the shot and discus in 2017. “It’s amazing to have these world class athletes here and seeing how you can match up against them.”

Curt Jensen, formerly of Illinois State, won the event with a throw of 21.13 meters (69 feet, 4 inches).

Leonard added that he intends to compete in both the indoor and outdoor season at Nebraska next season.

“I’ll be more adjusted to everything by then,” Leonard said. “Especially the shot, and hopefully be able to get some big throws out there.”

After spending the first day volunteering at the meet, Lake City High senior Emily Hernandez, the 2017 state 5A shot put champion, finished third in the girls shot put with a mark of 13.06 meters (42 feet, 3 1/2 inches).

“I found out this morning,” said Hernandez, who was third at state in the shot earlier this month, and has signed with New Mexico State. “My coach asked if I’d talked to Bart (Templeman) about throwing, and said I should. So I told him OK. I was thinking about it a little bit last night (Friday), and how cool it would be to throw with these amazing athletes. And it was.”

Veronica Fraley, who has signed with Clemson, won the girls shot with a throw of 17.90 meters (49 feet, 5 1/2 inches).

“I just thought it was super cool to compete here,” Hernandez said. “Everyone is welcoming and supports each other. It was really nice to finish here. I didn’t win state here, but I had a great time and felt I ended my high school career on a high note. It was really nice to compete here one last time.”

You can excuse Deanna Price for that first attempt in the women’s hammer throw — she’s got a lot on her mind.

With the U.S. Championships coming up in a few weeks in Des Moines, Iowa, as well as her upcoming wedding in October, she’s got a lot going on right now.

After fouling on her first attempt, Price shattered the American record in the event, throwing 77.65 meters (254 feet, 9 inches), breaking the previous mark of 76.77 meters set by Gwen Barry in 2017 at the Ole Miss Classic.

“The first throw, I threw it out of the left-side sector,” said Price, who competed at Southern Illinois. “And it was a far throw. The second one, I just lined it up and it felt good. It was probably the best series I’ve had.”

Price was a two-sport athlete in high school, competing in both softball and track and field.

“I had the option of doing both in college,” Price said. “When they took softball out of the Olympics, and for me, I’d played softball since I was 5. I’d had some hammer training, so I thought I’d give it a try. I couldn’t be happier with the results right now.”

Next week, Ian Frost will graduate at the top of his nine-student senior class at Mary M. Knight High in Elma, Wash.

Frost finished his prep career with a win in the boys hammer throw, winning with a mark of 63.16 meters (207 feet, 3 inches).

“I’ve never seen a throwing facility like this before,” Frost said. “Usually, it’s in the back 40 of everywhere I compete at. Here, it’s the main attraction.”

Frost will continue his career at Cornell next year.

“I’m really academic centered,” Frost said. “They checked everything off my list and the campus was beautiful. I knew when I stepped onto campus there that’s where I wanted to go.”

Frost is the class valedictorian.

“I’m writing my speech on the plane right home,” Frost said. “This last quarter has been a lot of work, and I’ve kind of been pushing it off for a little bit.”

Other winners included Shelby Moran of Sherwood, Ore. (girls hammer), Sean Donnelly (men’s hammer), Daniella Hill (women’s shot put) and Tyson Jones of Goodyear, Ariz. (boys shot put). Moran won the girls discus on Friday.

WOMEN’S HAMMER — 1, Deanna Price, 77.65 meters (254 feet, 9 inches). 2, Heavin Warner, 69.99 (229-7). 3, Amanda Bingson, 69.16 (226-11). 4, Christina MacDonald, 61.79 (202-8). 5, Katie Wadsworth, 53.32 (175-7).

GIRLS HAMMER — 1, Shelby Moran, 56.43 (185-1).

MEN’S HAMMER — 1, Sean Donnelly, 74.20 (243-5). 2, Connor McCullough, 71.52 (234-8). 3, Colin Dunbar, 71.37 (234-2).

BOYS HAMMER — 1, Ian Frost, 63.16 (207-3). 2, Patrick Larrison, 59.93 (196-7). 3, Joe Benedetto, 54.88 (180-1). 4, Collin Hughes, 49.19 (161-4).

WOMEN’S SHOT PUT — 1, Daniella Hill, 17.90 (58-8 3/4). 2, Erin Farmer, 17.73 (58-2). 3, McKenzie Warren, 16.04 (52-7 1/2). 4, Christina MacDonald, 15.98 (52-5 1/4).

GIRLS SHOT PUT — 1, Veronica Fraley, 15.07 (49-5 1/2). 2, Makayla Kelby, 14.03 (46-0 1/2). 3, Emily Hernandez, 13.06 (42-3 1/2). 4, Faite Ette, 13.47 (34-6 1/4). 5, Shelby Moran, 13.20 (33-3 3/4).

MEN’S SHOT PUT — 1, Curt Jensen, 21.13 (69-4). 2, Josh Freeman, 20.33 (66-6). 3, David Pless, 19.47 (60-10 1/2). 4, JC Murasky, 19.39 (63-7 1/2). 5, Lil Woo 19.19 (62-5 1/4). 6, Grady Leonard, 16.91 (55-4 1/2). 7, Jonathan Jones, no mark.

BOYS SHOT PUT — 1, Tyson Jones, 21.85 (71-8 1/4). 2, Joshua Sobota, 20.98 (68-10). 3, Patrick Larrison, 19.19 (62-11 1/2). 4, Carter Hughes, 16.91 (55-4 1/2).