Leffler captures discus crown at Kansas Relays
No. Heights senior comes up with 10th-best throw in Kansas high school history
By Michael Ashford
Monday, April 21, 2008
Ann Williamson/Special to The Gazette
Northern Heights senior Jacquelynne Leffler competes in the discus competition on Saturday at the Kansas Relays in Lawrence. Leffler won the event for the second straight year with a throw of 152 feet, 3 inches.
LAWRENCE — It was the type of throw Northern Heights’ Jacquelyne Leffler knew she had in her, she just didn’t know when — or if — it was ever going to show itself.
When Leffler let loose on her fifth attempt of the girls discus event on Saturday at the Kansas Relays, it not only represented her best throw ever in the event, but it also vaulted her into the top 10 on the list of best throws ever in the state of Kansas.
Leffler’s throw was 152 feet, 3 inches, besting her previous best of 151-7, which she set last season.
After the competition, which Leffler easily won to capture her second straight discus crown at the Kansas Relays, it was time for a smile and a sigh of relief.
“Finally, a breakthrough,” Leffler said. “I haven’t had a breakthrough all year in anything yet. It’s good to have a breakthrough in a big meet like this, because it will make the littler meets easier now.”
Leffler’s best throw of the day ended up being the one that stole the show, but by that point, she already had the victory all but locked up after getting an early push from Lee’s Summit (Mo.) North’s Megan Collins.
After Leffler threw a 144-1 on her first attempt, Collins answered with a 142-10 to add a little heat into the competition.
But in the end, it wouldn’t matter.
Though Collins eventually finished second with a best throw of 143-5, Leffler still out-distanced her on four out of six throws, with one of her throws being a fouled attempt.
“It’s really nice to end my career here on a P.R.,” Leffler said. “That’s what it takes.”
Of course, Leffler has bigger plans for the rest of her senior season. She now sits at 10th on the all-time list in Kansas state history, and has plans to throw at least 160 feet before she heads off to college at Kansas State in the fall. If she could reach 160 feet, that would move her into third all-time in Kansas history.
After Saturday’s showing, she believes that goal is much more within reach now.
“I think this will set me up for a bigger throw later this year, hopefully at State,” she said. “I’d like to get a big throw like that in before I’m done.”
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