One can only guess how big of a force Bishop Stang’s Jacob Cookinham will be in the shot put circle this spring. After a disappointing third-place finish Sunday on the final day of the New Balance National Indoor Track Championships, the top seed said he’s as focused as ever to make his spring campaign a memorable one.
Cookinham did have four throws over 60 feet with his top effort at 63-6 1/4 on his fourth attempt in the Track at New Balance’s shot put area. But he never felt well technically and woke up this morning feeling “a little bit under the weather.
“I didn’t feel the best,” said Cookinham, who will attend the University of Kansas. “I was having a tough day technically. Being third is alright and it’s motivation for outdoors. I was happy to have a great season.”
Having already defended her national titles in the 2-mile and 5K in decisive fashion, Belmont’s Ellie Shea was back on the track Sunday for the championship mile. The Emerging Elite Track Club super talent was in the hunt for most of the race and wound up a strong third in 4:40.76.
“It felt good,” said Shea, who is only a junior. “It was a big weekend. I wanted to do my best and do well today.”
Unlike the 2-mile and 5K where she left the field behind at the gun, Shea was running in a pack in the mile. “I was super happy to have people around me,” she said. “I ran all my races differently. The more you race, the more you’re going to get out of it.”
Amelia Everett woke up Sunday and decided she had nothing to lose by giving the mile a try. The Newton South talent had already accomplished what she wanted in the 800 with a third-place finish in a fast 2:08.50. It was a short turnaround for Everett, but she battled through some inevitable fatigue and heavy legs to clock a quick 4:56.42. Add that performance to Friday where she recorded the fastest 800 split in the sprint medley with a 2:11.72 and Everett had a full weekend.
“I decided this morning I’d run the mile,” said the Stanford-bound Everett. “Yesterday was the race (800) I was really focused on. (Newton South coach Steve McChesney) told me not to worry about my splits and to have fun.”
The Track at New Balance has become something of a home away from home for Everett, whose Dual County League meets were held there during the winter. “We have our dual meets here so it’s comfortable for me to run here,” she said. “It’s funny waking up and going to the nationals so close to home.”
Everett was especially pleased with the 800 championship race that earned her a place on the podium. She stayed back in seventh place over the first 400 and then let her speed take over. “I started moving up the last 400 and really sprinted hard the last 200,” she said.