Scott's Lowe finishes 3rd in state

MURFREESBORO — For a while, Ashley Lowe didn’t know if she would even make it to “The Boro.” When she did, she made the best of it.

The Scott High School junior turned in her best performance of the season throwing the discus at the Spring Fling at Middle Tennessee State, earning third place in the state as a result.

Lowe, who finished third in the eastern sectional discus throw a week earlier, had to wait to see if her performance at Kingsport was good enough to qualify for one of the eight coveted spots at Spring Fling, Tennessee’s state championships for high school spring sports. The top two throwers from each sectional earn a spot in the state event, along with the next top two throwers statewide.

It didn’t take long for Lowe to find a groove in Murfreesboro. Her first throw was a personal best.

“With each successive throw she increased that personal best,” SHS track coach Debbie Watts said.

Lowe’s final throw was her best of the day: 107’2”, setting the mark to be beaten.

“She held that first place for only a few minutes as two throwers who had previously not reached 107’ passed her on their last throw,” Watts said.

“Although disappointed after being knocked out of first, she is determined to return next year and come back home with a first place finish.”

Tyesha Jones, of Stratford High School, won the event in Class A-AA with a distance of 108’5”. Chelsey Currey of M.L. King finished second, with a distance of 107’4”.

Lowe was the first Lady Highlander to qualify for the state meet in a field event since Loretta Bertram won a state championship in the shot put almost 20 years ago.

SUB-SECTIONAL: Several Highlanders qualified for the Class A-AA sub-sectional on May 17.

In addition to Lowe’s qualification for the discus—her throw of 97’ was good enough to earn a spot in the state competition—Alora Beth Lowe and Morgan Brown competed in the discus, along with Frank Jones.

Hannah Watts, Emily Brewster, Jennifer Casey, Rebekah Sexton and Morgan Brown competed in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays. In each race, an athlete fell on the baton change as the result of a slick track due to rain.

Alexander Hamilton and Slayton Chambers competed in the 1600 meter run in a driving rain. Taylor Sellers had qualified for the 110 meter hurdles but was not able to compete due to a leg injury.

Other members of the SHS track and field team competing in 2010 were Tori Ross, Lacey Carver, Syrena Kries, Seth Goad, Chris Russ, Shawn Worley, Hunter Bunch, Trey Stevens and Chad Allen.