Lawrence Track Association member Blake Hocking, 13, set state records in the discus and shot put June 8 at the AAU state track meet in Manhattan.

Competing in his first Amateur Athletic Union state track meet held in Manhattan June 8-9, 13-year-old Blake Hocking wasn’t sure how well he would perform.

“I was really nervous,” he said. “I didn’t know if I was going to screw up or what the competition would be.”

But by the time the competition was over, Blake’s uncertainty proved only to be a slight hitch. Hocking, competing in the Sub-Youth divisions, walked away with two state titles. The first came in the shot put, throwing 39 feet, 2 inches and the other in the discus with a throw of 106-8.

“It’s nice,” Blake said of winning two titles. “I put in a lot of dedication and hard work. I just tried my hardest.”

As member of the Lawrence Track Club, the Southwest Junior High eighth-grader has competed in other states, including Missouri and Nebraska.

But his quest for a state title began with a little help from his father, Mike – a shot put thrower in high school and college – and first-year Lawrence Track Club coach Garen Stacey. Under their guidance Blake trained by lifting weights, running and eating plenty of protein.

His father said he would have been pleased with his son’s performance even if he had not won two state championships.

“I was proud to have him compete with the best,” Mike Hocking said. “You don’t expect a first-year athlete to do that.”

Stacey recalled that he knew Hocking had potential from the first time he saw Blake compete. There was just one little problem: his throwing techniques needed improvement.

The player and coach went to work on basic throwing fundamentals including how to hold both the discus and shot put, getting the proper footwork in the ring, as well as maintaining proper balance on the throw.

“He’s a good kid,” Stacey said. “He’s coachable. He listens and takes what you give him and he builds off that.”

Blake will look to have a repeat performance this weekend as he competes at Districts in Topeka. From there he will hope to qualify for Regionals the following week in Joplin, Mo.

But even that won’t be satisfactory for Blake. He has set his sights on winning Nationals as just one of his future goals.

“I want to compete a lot nationally,” he said. “I want people to know me.”

Stacey added that he had little doubt Blake Hocking could become a familiar name in years to come.

“He has all the potential in the world,” Stacey said. “I have the utmost confidence in him.”