Milestone Within the Meet for Swampscott Senior

The Big Blue girls track and field team defeated Gloucester April 30 at Upper Jackson, 85-51.

But one of the victories within the victory was a senior's shot put throw of 30 feet 10 inches.

That throw brought senior Ny'Cole Young-Thomas to her knees in elation and to tears in teammates' arms.

Coach Peter Bush said Ny'Cole's eclipsing the 30 feet mark qualifies her for the state track meet.

Not only that but the throw broke the barrier she has been trying to break since last year.

She set the 30-foot mark as a goal for winter track and fell short. She set it again for spring, but was stuck in the 28-foot range.

But on Tuesday her hard work got her past the mark, and now that she has surpassed it and gained confidence, there is no telling where she will end up, the caach said.

Her confidence got a boost last weekend too when she was part of the Swampscott shot put relay team that won a bronze medal.

Another shot-putter, Danny Duff, broke a key barrier Tuesday, throwing 40 feet for the first time, the coach said.

It takes a weight off a thrower's back to get beyond those marks, 30 feet for girls and 40 feet for boys, the coach said.

Danny still has to tack on two feet to his throw since 42 feet is the qualifying mark for states. But he has two meets with which to try to achieve that mark.

Over at the high jump, Swampscott freshman Donovan Coleman was happy with his jumping. He jumped 5 feet 8 inches, good for first place.

He said one of his goals this spring is to clear 5 feet 10 inches, to qualify for the state meet. 

His overall goal is to clear 6 feet this spring. He has two more meets to do it.

Tuesday's results for the girls' meet: