By Chris Parker & Amanda Perkins
Jackson Cantwell’s final state track meet couldn’t have gotten off to a better start with all five of the Nixa junior’s throws going over 200 feet including a new personal best of 210’5 on his fifth throw of the competition.
Each legal throw was enough to win the Class 5 state title.
“It was probably the most consistent discus series I have had in high school,” Cantwell said. “I feel great about it. I have been waiting to have a really good discus competition the whole year. I have had some flashes of good throws here and there. I think today I put it all together.”
Cantwell won the competition by almost 16 feet over teammate Hayden Mays, who finished second with a personal best of 194’8 on his sixth and final throw of the competition.
“I have had some far fouls in meets, (so) I knew I was able to do it. When I had a good warmup, I just tried to keep connecting on it,” Mays said. “Once I got a good mark going into the final, I knew I had nothing to lose so I just tried to chase it.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE MEET
Cantwell’s mark ranks No. 6 in the country for the season with Mays’ throw checking in at No. 25.
After the meet, Cantwell, who will graduate in December to enroll at the University of Miami early, reflected on the fact that this might be the last discus competition of his track career.
“It really hit me that may be the last time I pick up a disc ever,” Cantwell said. “Even if I throw in college, I don’t know how much I will throw that event. I may not pick up a disc again. I don’t know. It is hitting me right now because that is something that I didn’t know how long I would have it and it might be gone now. I enjoyed while it lasted, and I had a lot of fun today.”
He still has one more day of competition where he looks for a third straight shot put title with a simple goal in mind.
“Throw a PR,” Cantwell said. “I would like to end my career with a PR.”
The junior duo will look to go 1-2 again and stack another 18 points for Nixa’s team total with the goal of getting on the podium as a team.
“One thing I wanted before I left high school was to get a team (track) trophy of some variety,” Cantwell said. “We have been close. I think we finally have the additional people for it this year.”
