Madison's Wesley fights through injury for seventh place in D-II state shot put
· Yahoo Sports
COLUMBUS — Madison's Addison Wesley looked battle worn, but ready for the next challenge Saturday afternoon during the Division II girls shot put competition at the Ohio High School Athletic Association Jesse Owens State Track Championships in Columbus.
The heavy wrap on the senior's upper left leg was in place to control a hip strain incurred while throwing discus two weeks ago at the district meet, Madison throws coach Mike Martin said.
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He said the injury ended up hurting her chances to qualify in the discus, but she nursed through it in the shot put.
Martin said she wasn't able to qualify in the discus because of the painful injury, but earned seventh place medal in the D-II shot put for her efforts. She hoped to make the finals from the first heat.
"Walking into the state meet, I was seeded 13th," Wesley said. "Coming out seventh place was amazing. To see all the hard work I put in, to be shown at the state track meet was great.
"If I wasn't injured, I would've loved to see where my mark would have been. But I cannot complain, that podium felt very nice."
The 39'03.25" throw unleashed a huge smile, and a sense she could reach the finals.
In the finals, Wesley held her place with the earlier throw, and ended walking from the throws area back to Jesse Owens Stadium for the awards presentation.
Avon Lake sophomore Rileigh Scarvelli took first place with a throw of 45'3".
After the throwers were placed on their appropriate numbers, each was given their medal and family and friends gathered for pictures.
Marin and Wesley also took time to get a picture by the electronic scoreboard, in the throwing area, that showed her name and distance.
Martin said they had to change her training significantly the last several weeks because of the painful injury.
"We got with our trainer, wrapped it up," he said. "We were very judicious with our training."
Wesley was limited to three hard throws a day this past week. The throws were at maximum level and right around the 40'0" mark, Martin said.
"She has been a four-year letterman," Martin said of his shot putter that threw in the 38s last year before moving up to a best throw of 39'11" earlier this season.
In March, Wesley threw 39'0.75" in the D-II shot and finished second in the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Indoor State Meet at SPIRE Academy.
"She is a super, super kid who has done everything I asked of her," Martin said of her commitment level.
Wesley is planning to continue her education at Walsh University this fall and has committed to the school's STUNT team.
At this time, she said she said she is not planning to throw in college.