SHANNON Montgomery wants to make history for Newton Falls High School.
KaiCee Kubicina threw 146 feet, 5 inches to win the 2008 Division II girls discus state title and went on to Youngstown State University.
A couple of years later, Montgomery, a senior, is eyeing that mark of Kubicina. She's 4 feet behind that aforementioned school record.
Montgomery won her second straight Trumbull County Track and Field Meet girls discus title at Don Richards Stadium on the Lakeview High School campus, but it was more than 15 feet off of where she'd like to be.
"I'm disappointed in the length of my throw (Tuesday)," said Montgomery, who will throw for Walsh University next season. "I'm going to keep on pushing to move up my mark."
She's been under the tutelage of Jon Culp, who is the throws coach. Culp also mentored Kubicina, who won county shot put and discus titles in 2007 and '08.
"We've got a great throwing coach," Montgomery said. "Mr. Culp is always there for me. He's a very intelligent man. He threw at YSU. He knows what he's talking about. We're always practicing. He's someone I look up to. He's really inspired me."
For Montgomery, she knows when practice makes perfect. It's not something she gives too much thought to.
"When I don't think about it and feel nothing," Montgomery said. "When I try, it doesn't do too well. You've got to blank everything out and just throw. You've got to feel it."
She's hoping she'll feel what it's like to stand atop the Division II state girls discus podium.
If Montgomery wins state in early June in Columbus, it will be the third field events state title for Newton Falls - starting with Kubicina's victory in 2008. Jen Bjelac won the Division II state girls long jump title last season.
"I want the best for our school," Montgomery said. "I want to give our school a good name."
MEET SCHEDULE: Today's finals of the county meet begins at 4:30 p.m., with the girls shot put and high jump and the boys discus and long jump. Then the running finals start at 5 p.m., starting with the girls 100 hurdles and boys 110 hurdles and eventually ending with the 4x400-meter relays.
ALL ABOUT THE W: Warren G. Harding girls 4x800 relay started off Tuesday with five points and had six points from Emily Stevens in the long jump and five more from Kiemon Gonzalez in the discus.
All those put the Raiders in prime position to win their third straight county title as they sit in fourth with 15 points. Girard and Lakeview currently lead with 25 each and McDonald has 22. WGH should get 16 points from Amiah Wesley in the 100 and 200 today. Alexandra Allen could well win the 100 and 300 hurdles for 20 more points and see the 4x100 and 4x200 relays take the gold as well for a combined 40 points. That will put the Raiders at 71 points. They'll get some other points here and there and WGH could easily surpass 90 and win once again.
TIGERS UNLEASHED: Howland enters today's meet finale with 21 points, third behind first-place Lakeview (32) and second-place Girard (28). Daniel Moody, who placed second in Tuesday's shot put, is the favorite to win the discus, which will give the Tigers 10 more points. Andrew Hamilton (300 hurdles) and Nate Sutton (3,200) could win their events. Connor Gilmour (400) Troy Seagraves and Ryan Sullivan in the 800 and 1,600, along with Brendan Cope in the sprints, could equal some solid points for the Tigers, who are primed to win their first county title since 2003.
JUST QUICK: Niles senior Darius Harris and Lakeview senior Lauren Schattinger are the favorites to win the boys and girls 100 and 200 today with Tuesday's fastest qualifying times in both. Harris was last year's running event MVP with a win in the 100 and second in the 200. Schattinger won both events and took second in the 400 to take girls MVP honors.