Legacy’s Allgood quickly earns acclaim in shot put, discus

Avione Allgood wasn’t much interested in the shot put or discus when she took up track and field at age 6. At that stage, she was all track, no field.

But after two years of “sprinting, sprinting, sprinting,” it was time for a change, her mother, Gloria Allgood, said.

“She decided she was tired of the sprinting, so we tried to find some kind of niche for her,” the elder Allgood said.

They found much more than a niche. They put Allgood, now 15, on a path that has her aiming for the 2016 Olympics.

Allgood, a freshman at Legacy, has posted marks of 43 feet, 7 inches in the shot put and 136-10 in the discus this season. Both are the nation’s best freshmen outdoor marks reported this season, according to track and field Web site DyeStat.com.

Allgood’s shot put mark is No. 1 in the state, and she trails only Canyon Springs junior Destanae Howerton-Davis (139-11) in the discus.

Allgood will be among the favorites at the Class 4A Sunset Region meet beginning Wednesday and the state meet May 22. Both are at Del Sol.

Though she hopes to win at least one state championship for four straight years at Legacy, the soft-spoken Allgood isn’t heaping pressure on herself.

“I just like having fun and taking it slow,” she said. “Basically, my motto’s 'whatever happens, happens.’ Have a good attitude and have fun.”

Gloria Allgood, Legacy’s throwing coach, said her daughter’s transition from sprints to throws has gone smoothly since she first competed in the shot put at 8.

The 5-foot-6-inch Avione offered proof of her proficiency in her high school debut March 16 against Shadow Ridge. She threw 42-6½ in the shot put, which would have won last year’s state title by more than a foot.

She’s doing this mostly with raw talent rather than polished technique, her mother said.

“She needs to pick up on her speed and use her legs more,” Gloria Allgood said. “(She needs) a little more structured weight program, which she hasn’t been doing.

“Technique, she still has some flaws, but she’s young.”

Allgood still ran the 100- and 300-meter hurdles this season and has had out-of-season success in the javelin and hammer throw. But her focus has shifted to the two events in which she can win unprecedented state titles for a Legacy program in only its third year of existence.

“At this point in the season, we drop the hurdles and let her concentrate on her throws,” Gloria Allgood said.

After watching Avione outperform more experienced throwers all season, Longhorns head coach Shannon Banks doesn’t expect anything different in the postseason.

“Sometimes you’re intimidated by the older throwers,” Banks said. “But Avione shows up every time.”

Banks called Allgood’s “will to compete” her biggest strength and wouldn’t be surprised to see her reach the Olympics.

“I think that’s a really good goal,” Banks said. “She strives for something, and she puts her mind to it and accomplishes whatever she puts her mind to.”

Allgood’s consistency has been crucial for the Longhorns. She has topped 40 feet in the shot put four times and 130 in the discus six times, notching a combined 12 first-place finishes.

The instant success hasn’t surprised Allgood, but that doesn’t mean she’s satisfied. “I sort of expected it, but I know I can do better,” she said.

After watching Allgood hit 147 feet in the discus during practice, her mother wants to see her reach 143 in competition by the end of the season.

“She’s capable of throwing distances beyond what she’s doing,” Gloria Allgood said. “I see that out in practice.

“We’re happy with her season, especially as a freshman. We also know that there’s more distance in her.”