Faith Simpson stood on the winners’ platform Saturday afternoon and accepted her first-place medal in Class D discus. Simpson’s throw of 129’11” was nearly two feet farther than second place.
Simpson wins Class D discus, earns second in shot put; Anderjaska medals in 800
Wauneta-Palisade senior Faith Simpson kept WP’s gold medal streak alive at the state track meet.
Simpson placed first in the discus, continuing the gold medal streak started by Greg Gaston’s back-to-back high jump championships.
The first thrower in the second flight, Simpson immediately took the lead with a toss of 127’0” on her first throw. Her second throw earned her the gold medal with a throw of 129’11”.
WP Head Coach Dawn Doetker said it was awesome to see Simpson bring home the gold, especially after an ankle injury earlier in the month at the Dundy County-Stratton Twilight.
“She earned it,” Doetker said. “She was very focused and determined.”
After four trips to state in the discus, throwing coach Shelby Cox said Simpson was happy to finally break through with a first-place finish.
Doetker gave a shout out to the sunny weather. Simpson threw in the rain last year in Omaha, but enjoyed cool dry weather Friday morning.
The same couldn’t be said for Saturday. Simpson and Reagan Skow faced cold, rainy conditions during the shot put. Skow threw 31’0.5” during the chilly first flight. Rain began falling between flights and Simpson threw with showers falling.
Simpson’s throw of 37’8” gave her second place by one-half inch.
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