Aledo Ladycat senior-to-be Lauren St. Peters experienced both familiarity and something different at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon this past weekend.
The familiar, she won a pair of bronze medals in the shot put and discus to add to her collection. However, medals in this event are, without question, some of the more prestigious to be won as she competed against some of the best young talent the United States has to offer.
The something different, she competed in the hammer throw, a sport that is not offered in high school competition in Texas.
"The hammer is a great tool for the shot put and discus. It really works your core harder than the other two," St. Peters said.
Competing in the Championship Division, St. Peters had a third-place throw of 151 feet, 4.5 inches on Friday, June 16. The next day she came back to take third in the shot put with a personal-best throw of 47-6.25.
Her previous best in the discus was 47-5.5 at the University Interscholastic League Region I Meet in Lubbock on April 29, which she won to earn a berth at state. In Austin, at the 5A State Meet, she placed third.
Her best throw in the discus remains 154-05 when she won the UIL Area 5/6 Meet on April 21 in Justin.
Despite all the success she's had - and even having competed at the Nike Nationals last year and reaching the finals in all three events - St. Peters admitted to being a little nervous before the weekend began.
"I heard someone say 'Changing your nerves to excitement is something that can help you,'" she said. "That was kind of my motto through the weekend."
St. Peters has been on something of a roll since the Texas Relays in early April. It was there she realized she could again be on top of her sport after having had knee surgery in January. She simply does what she does best and the results take care of themselves.
"I try to hone it on the repetition of it. I try to not get too caught up in the statistics," she said.
“I’m super proud of Lauren and everything she has accomplished and will accomplish in the future,” Aledo Ladycats track coach Mike Pinkerton said. “She has a tremendous work ethic, as well as being highly competitive. Can’t say enough good things!”
Now, about that hammer throw. She finished 13th with a personal-best throw of 137-10.75.
"I had to expand my stamina through three days. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't exhausted," she said. "It was kind of a bummer, and it was raining, but I did so good in the shot put and discus, so that's okay.
"I'm really proud to be able to compete at a high level in all three. I think I'm the only girl at the competition who did all three."
While the hammer throw isn't offered in Texas high school competition, St. Peters plans to throw it in college. Shortly after the state meet she made a verbal commitment to compete for the University of Nebraska.
"When you're looking at a throwing program, it doesn't get any better than than the University of Nebraska," she said. "It won't be official until November, but I'm glad to have all this recruiting business over."
St. Peters said she plans to spend the rest of the summer focusing on weightlifting and conditioning. She might also attend a few camps, she said.
Oh, and one more thing.
"Working on the hammer," she said with a grin.
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