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Myers eager for shot at state By Don Hunt EUGENE � Scott Myers enters the state track meet today brimming with confidence. The North Medford High shot put and discus standout owns the top mark in the state in the former (57-4 �) and the fifth-best mark in the latter (168-2). Perhaps more importantly, Myers has registered impressive throws in each event virtually all season. "I know I can compete with anyone in the state in either event," says Myers, a junior who transferred to North from Stayton High last year. "Last year I was intimidated (at the state meet) and didn�t do much, but I�m a lot more confident now. I know I can throw with the big boys." The meet gets under way at 10:30 a.m. today and picks up Saturday at 10 a.m. The first running event Saturday � the girls 4 x 100-meter relay � kicks off at 1 p.m. Myers reached his lifetime best of 168-2 in the discus last Saturday at the Southern Oregon Conference district meet, and while his winning throw in the shot put (55-6 �) was nearly two feet less than his personal record, he�s anticipating a new pair of PRs this weekend. "I�ve been over 170 (feet) in the discus in practice and I know I can throw the shot at least 58," he says. "It�s just a matter of ironing out a couple of minor flaws in my technique." At 6-foot-1 and 250 pounds, Myers is about 15 pounds lighter than he was at this same time last year. He�s also stronger, having been a regular visitor to the weight room since last summer. Combined with another season under veteran throws coach Mike Schaan, and it�s no wonder Myers is heaving the shot put a full 5 feet further than a year ago. "When I first coached him last year, he had a lot of flaws in his technique," Schaan says. "He was essentially throwing with brute strength and not much else. "The first thing we did was get his legs and hips more involved in his throws." At first, the metamorphosis caused Myers to overanalyze his form. He was thinking so much that it hindered his performance, Schaan says. "Now he�s able to let his body work and his mind relax," Schaan says. "His only real weakness now is arm speed. He loses a little velocity in his throwing arm once he snaps his hips, but we�re working on it. "In this sport, it�s one step at a time." While the shot put and discus go hand-in-hand to most throwers in track, they actually have little in common. Whereas the shot demands an explosive and aggressive approach, the discus requires more finesse and composure in the ring. "It�s two different mindsets, really," Myers says. "I try to get my adrenalin flowing in the shot and try to stay more calm in the discus. In the discus, you need grace and balance and then try to be powerful at the end (of the spin)." With the discus being contested today and the shot put Saturday, Myers will have plenty of time to switch gears. West Linn�s Rob Mamula, with a best of 57-3 � in the shot and 173-6 in the discus, could be Myers� biggest challenger in each event. Roseburg�s Joe Newton, who edged Myers in the discus at district and has a best of 170-3 in the event, also figures to contend. Meanwhile, the North boys have an outside shot at a trophy (top four) if 400-meter runner/hurdler Nick Dunn and its 4 x 400 relay team can produce big points. The relay foursome of Matt Parish, Matt Schneider, Andrew Ludlow and Dunn heads into the meet with the state�s second-best time (3:24.4). "We don�t have a lot of guys competing in the meet (five in four events) but they�re quality performers," North Medford head coach Mark Hodges says. "And our relay team is very confident right now." Ditto for the Tornado girls 4 x 100 relay, which established a district meet record of 48.84 last Saturday and owns the best time in the state. The North girls qualified six girls in the three sprint races and two relays. Junior Jennifer Abbott, who will run the 100, 200 and legs on both relays, leads the way. "Our girls short relay is very confident and our long relay is coming on strong," Hodges says, noting that the 4 x 400 relay clocked 4:04.58 at district, the state�s fifth-fastest time. "Our girls just might surprise some people." The South Medford girls qualified five competitors in six events, led by Heather Frigaard in the 100 and 300 hurdles and Sarah Eyman in the 1,500. Middle distance star Perry Custance and high jumper Ethan Wallenberg, whose lifetime best of 6-7 at the district meet was just one inch shy of what any other competitor jumped last week, carry the mantle for the South boys. The Ashland girls have two potential state champions in shot-putter Jackie Woods, who has the No. 1 throw at 43-8, and distance ace Paris Edwards, who ranks No. 2 in the 3,000 (9:59.06). Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA