AUSTIN – A historic day for the Early Lady Horns track and field program concluded with a state championship in one event, and a silver medal in another, at the UIL Class 3A State Championships Thursday at Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas.
In her third appearance at the state meet, Early junior Jamie Vassar captured the 3A girls shot put championship in dominant fashion. Vassar’s best throw of the day was her second – a school record and career-best 44-1.75. But five of Vassar’s six efforts exceeded the runner-up performance of Hooks’ Rayya Brown (41-3).
“This means everything,” Vassar said. “I’ve been putting in the work at practice, going to meets, consistently giving my all, 100 percent. To be here today, after the past two years when I was down the line, it feels amazing.”
Vassar placed eighth at state as a freshman and just missed out on a medal as a sophomore with a fourth-place performance.
But Thursday, Vassar opened the competition with a throw of 43-7.5, led by more than seven feet going into the second throw, and never let up.
“I just tell myself to get on the board, and when I get on the board and chase the person in front me,” Vassar said.
When Vassar had no one to chase Thursday, “Then it’s consistently still trying to beat myself,” she said. “I always feel like there’s something else to do and I try and do it.”
Lady Horns track and field head coach Ty Palmer said, “What can you say about Jamie? Career day, school record, and state championship all in one. She’s had an up and down year, tried to fix some form things, and got it figured out at the right time.”
Earlier Thursday, Ellie Shea collected the first medal of the day for the Lady Horns with a second-place performance in the discus.
Landing in third place on her second attempt of 129-4, Shea remained there until her final attempt. Appearing to be lock for a bronze medal, Orangefield’s Haylee Spears recorded a 130-3 on her final attempt, one before Shea. Suddenly faced with potential missing out on a medal, Shea saved her best effort of the day for last – 135-7 – which left her behind only state champion Breeley Lively of Franklin (137-3).
Heading into the final throw, Shea said, “I stayed calm, I prayed right before I got into the ring, and then I told myself do what you can do. I was struggling a little at the beginning, but I made it this far, I made it to state, I might as well give it everything I’ve got.”
Shea, also a junior, was making her state debut Thursday.
“I’ve worked very hard for this,” Shea said. “I got fourth at regionals the last two years so this was finally my breakthrough year. Next year I’m going to do the exact things I did this year. I have a couple of summer meets lined up, so I think things will work out well.”
Palmer added, “Ellie get fourth the last two years at regionals and would have qualified in every other region, then had a setback today with the girl jumping her late and she jumped back ahead of her on the last throw. I’m so proud of her, I’m proud of both girls.”
Early’s 18 points led the 3A portion of the meet before the running finals began, and the Lady Horns finished tied for 12th overall with Jim Ned. The Lady Horns finished behind state champion Randolph (59 points), along with second-place Holliday (50), third-place Franklin (34), fourth-place Texarkana Liberty-Eylau (33), fifth-place Keene (26), sixth-place West (24), seventh-place Gladewater (23), and Atlanta, Corpus Christi London, Crockett and Gunter, who all tied for eighth-place with 20 points.
