Laney aims for a shot at state

Competes in the shot put

Del Norte High junior Morgan Laney competes in the shot put at the Humboldt-Del Norte Conference Championships in Crescent City on May 13. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

While possessing the physical and athletic skills to succeed in the shot put, it’s the desire and willingness to always go the extra mile that separates Del Norte junior Morgan Laney from the rest of the pack.

Del Norte head track and field coach Robyn Parker, who specializes in the throwing events and participated in the shot put in high school, said that she and Laney spend a lot of time during and after practice perfecting her skills.

Laney has proven to be a willing student, she said.

“Morgan is extremely driven to do better in the shot put,” Parker said. “We’re usually the last ones to leave. She always pushes herself.”

This dedication has paid off as Laney has earned a berth in the Northcoast Section Meet of Champions in Berkeley on Friday, which is one step away from state.

“I’m always determined to do my best and to keep working on trying to throw farther.” Laney said.

She qualified for Berkeley  with a throw of 38.3 feet, which earned her second place at the  Northcoast Section Redwood Empire Championships in Rohnert Park on May 21.

Last year as a sophomore, Laney qualified for the Meet of Champions by placing fifth at the Redwood Empire Championships. In Berkeley, she came in 13th place.

“It’s been really exciting to see how much she has improved since last year,” Parker said, adding that she has been a great teen to work with.

“She’s just your all-around good teenager,” Parker said.

At the Humboldt-Del Norte Conference Championships in Crescent City on May 13, Laney set a personal best mark of 39.3 feet and nearly tied the Big 5 record of 39.4 feet.

Parker believes that if she can throw like this in Berkeley she has a terrific chance of moving on to state.

The competition will be tough  in Berkeley and Laney knows that she must step up her game if she wants to move on to the state championships in Clovis.

Laney believes that she needs to throw at least 39 feet if she wants to qualify for state by placing in the top four.

“I’ve definitely been preparing hard,” she said. “I really want to do well and go on. That’s my big goal.”

Laney is proud that she has made it this far and said that with all the work she has put in, it certainly makes everything worthwhile by qualifying for Berkeley for the second year in a row.

Laney first took up the shot put in 8th grade at Redwood  and found she had the ability to throw well and became hooked.

“I did well so I told myself I was going to keep at it,” she said.

Once her Warrior career finishes next season, Laney said  that she would love to partake in the shot put in college.

Currently, she would like to attend Sacramento State University and major in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies.

She has a personal interest with this major since her father is deaf and she has known sign language practically her entire life.

Laney said that she would like to work with kids and “help them communicate with others” and work on “building their confidence.”