She’s the No. 1 shot putter in the state at 47 feet, 5 inches and the No. 4 discus thrower at 147-9

For someone who didn’t even know what a shot or a discus was, Cathedral Catholic’s Kennedy Clarke is doing well.

When Clarke was a freshman, the volleyball coach suggested she try track and field.

“She said I might be pretty good at throwing,” said Clarke, now a senior. “So, I tried it. Actually, it was the first time I’d ever heard of the shot put and discus. I didn’t know what to expect, but I loved it.”

And succeeded.

Clarke made a major technique change and now is the No. 1 shot putter in the state at 47 feet, 5 inches and the No. 4 discus thrower at 147-9 heading into Friday and Saturday’s state meet at Buchanan High in Clovis.

She also was so enamored with the sport, she dropped volleyball this past fall.

She easily qualified in both events at the section championships, winning the shot by almost five feet at 42-0 with a foul over 45-feet and the discus by 12 feet with a toss of 133-2.

How was she hooked?

“We have fun at practice,” explained the 5-foot-9 senior. “Coaches make practice super easy and I’ve bonded with the others. It feels like a family atmosphere.”

About that technique change in the shot.