Liberty sophomore aims to cast her own shadow
Legacy senior Avione Allgood has been Nevada’s dominant girls thrower since winning the state shot put title as a freshman.
But Liberty sophomore Ashlie Blake has her sights set on dethroning Allgood this spring.
“Avione is like my big sister,” Blake said. “But this is my year to get out from underneath that shadow. It’s not going to be Avione and Ashlie anymore. It’s going to be Ashlie.”
Allgood has won three state titles in the shot put and two straight in the discus. Her winning mark of 47 feet 11¾ inches in the shot at last year’s state meet ranks No. 2 in state history. Last spring’s winning discus throw of 148-8 is No. 4 all time.
But Blake made things interesting last year as a freshman at Palo Verde, finishing second to Allgood in both events.
And over the summer at the Junior Olympics, Blake took a major step forward. Her mark of 49-6 in the shot put was 5 inches shy of the national record, and she set a Junior Olympics record of 152-11¾ in the discus.
“My goal this year is first to win state and throw 53 feet,” Blake said. “My goal for the discus is 156 (feet).”
The Nevada state record, not coincidentally, is 156-0 — a mark set in 1999.
“The shot put is my best event,” Blake said. “The discus is coming around, but the shot is my best event. For my first meet this year I want to throw 51 (feet).”
The state record in Nevada for the shot put is 48 feet.
Allgood isn’t likely to challenge Blake much this spring. The senior, who has signed with Oklahoma, is recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff in her right/throwing shoulder, common injuries for baseball pitchers and javelin throwers.
Nevada doesn’t sanction the javelin throw, which is Allgood’s best event. She won the 2011 USATF Junior Outdoor Championships with a throw of 176-8.
Allgood’s recovery will take another three months, but instead of skipping her senior season, Allgood’s mother and coach, Gloria, suggested Avione throw left-handed.
“We wanted to try her left-handed to at least compete,” Gloria Allgood said. “She can possibly make regionals and qualify for state. Plus, by throwing left-handed it makes her a more well-balanced athlete. It would be quite a feat if she could make it to state throwing left-handed. She needs to let that right shoulder heal.”
Avione Allgood said it’s easier to throw the discus with her left hand, but she hopes to qualify for state in both events. She also will run on Legacy’s 400-meter relay team.
Allgood hopes to recover in time to throw the javelin — with her right hand — at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June.
Liberty throws coach Tim Cagle has guided Allgood and Blake as a club coach.
“They’re just athletic,” Cagle said. “It’s in their blood. It’s in the genes. I’ve been coaching Ashlie forever — since she was a baby. We have a love-hate relationship sometimes because I’m hard. I’m a pretty rough coach. I demand a lot.”
Cagle said Blake wants to top the national shot put record of 54-10¾ and said that the Patriots will take Blake to some of the top high school events.
“She wants to be the first girl, ever, to throw 60 (feet),” Cagle said. “We’ll be taking her to Arcadia, Mt. SAC and the Oregon Relays this year. You can’t deny a girl like that.”