Fields takes third in shot put

DES MOINES — Kelsey Fields of Creston finished her track and field career with four state medals after taking third place in the Class 3A shot put Friday morning.

The Panther senior, who had already placed sixth and third in the shot put as a freshman and sophomore, was coming off a fifth-place performance in the discus a day earlier.

After the 24 shot put competitors threw in two separate flights Friday morning, the third-seeded Fields was qualified for the finals with the second-best throw of 42 feet, 3 1/4 inches on her third try. Eventual state champion Jaden Brumbaugh of Mount Pleasant, who carried a throw of 43-6 into the finals.

Through one throw in the finals, Fields maintained her second-place position behind Brumbaugh. But, Humboldt’s Kendal Clark surpassed Fields with a 42-5 1/2 distance on her second attempt, and topped that with a 42-10 3/4 throw on her final attempt.

Fields, determined to get at least the runner-up placing back in her third throw, reached 4209 for her best throw of the day, but it was less than two inches shy of Clark’s best as she matched her sophomore season finish of third place.

Brumbaugh won the event at 44-9. Fields finished her career with a personal record of 43-11, second all-time on the Creston record board behind 2017 state champion Hannah Hood’s mark of 44-2.

“I knew I would have to throw my farthest today to get first or second, and that didn’t happen,” Fields said. “Just knowing that was my last throw ever, I was just trying to make it a good one. A lot of the girls who were also at Drake threw better than they did at Drake and I did a little better than at Drake, too.”

“She competed well today,” said Creston assistant coach Maggie Arnold, who works with the throwers. “Before that last throw we talked about it, she knew what she was shooting for and she just came up a tad bit short on it. But, she went after it and that was awesome.”

Head coach Clay Arnold, like his wife, was emotional about how Fields contended for top honors down the stretch in a rugged 3A field. While placing third in 3A, Fields would have won any of the other three classes in this year’s shot put with her 42-9 throw.

“Kelsey qualified fourth and got third, so she brought it today,” Clay Arnold said. “Kendal Clark, once she got that third (preliminary) throw to make the finals, we knew that could be a springboard for her. Kelsey threw her best one of the day on her last one, so she was competing hard. Overall, she’s the best thrower in Creston history with three shot put medals and a discus medal. She’s special.”

Friday’s Class 3A

• Girls shot put — 3. Kelsey Fields, Creston, 42-9.

• Boys shot put — 13. Dalton Stubbe, Clarke, 49-8.5.

• Girls 100 meter hurdles (prelims) — 14. Tory Henry, Clarke, 16.77.