Ottawa’s Blakesley sets 5A shot put record

? In what could be Caleb Blakesley’s final track meet, the shot-putting monster from Ottawa High quickly made his mark Friday.

“I did what I came to do,” said the Cyclones senior, who broke the Class 5A record after his first toss of 63 feet, 63â4 inches at the state meet at Cessna Stadium.

Blakesley, who will play football this fall at Kansas University, nearly had one heck of a curtain call, too. His final heave was just short at 63-04.25.

“After losing at the Kansas Relays for the first time in two years, I just told myself that I wasn’t going to lose anymore,” Blakesley said. “After that meet I just started hitting my throws, and they kept getting bigger and bigger. Luckily, I had one big one left for this meet.”

Indeed, the standout’s shot shattered the record of 62-03, set by Kansas City Ward’s Greg Kolendass in 1976.

“I knew that it was coming,”Blakesley said.

But all four of his other tosses were enough to win, because Paola’s Jordan Karr placed second after a put of 58-08.25. Blakesley’s worst distance was 59-09.25.

“Today, he had a heck of a series, but lately you could tell he wasn’t as concerned with his series and was gearing up for one great toss,” Ottawa coach Mark Laws said. “I’ve never seen this kid not live up to the expectations.”

Ottawa high senior Caleb Blakesley puts the shot in a state-record performance. Blakesley's heave of 63 feet, 6.75 inches in his first attempt was enough for the Class 5A record Friday in Wichita.

But the two-time defending shot champion, who today will compete in the discus, said he wasn’t sure if he would continue his track career at KU.

“I’m not quite sure yet,” said the standout offensive lineman/defensive end, who showed no signs of weakness from the torn ACL he suffered in his right knee last fall. “I still need to talk that over with the coaches, but I’m definitely excited about how everything came together today.”

Ottawa’s 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams posted the fastest times in both events.

De Soto’s Casey Johnson qualified first in the 400-meter preliminaries and already owns the fastest time in the 800 this year in 1:53. The defending state champ also won regionals in the 1,600 and 3,200.

Wildcat teammate Jackie Goleman took third in the high jump after a leap of 5-02.00, while Tonganoxie sophomore Ali Pistora also posted a 5-02 jump, which was good for fifth.

Pistora, who held the state’s second-best throw in the javelin, was third in that competition after a toss of 137-08.