DP’s Stamatia Scarvelis wins state title in shot put

Stamatia Scarvelis is the state champion in the girls shot put.

The Dos Pueblos sophomore threw 47-3.25 on her final attempt to overtake Tanya Sapa of La Sierra and win the title at the CIF State Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Buchanan High in Clovis.

Stamatia follows her older brother, Nicholas, as a state shot put champion. He won last year in Berkeley.

On the track, DP sophomore Addi Zerrenner placed 13th in the girls 3200 with a time of 10:42.00. Zerrenner had a tremendous year, qualifying for state in track and cross country.

Simi Valley’s sophomore sensation Sarah Baxter ran away with the 3200 title in a time of 10:12. Xochitl Navarrete of Colony was second in 10:25.85 and Laura Hollander of Marina finished third in 10:26.02.

Scarvelis, the top seed going into the finals, had a series of 41-9.25, 45-9.25, 45-5.25, 43-01, 45-9.50 and her winning mark. She was in fourth place when she stepped up and unleashed her winning mark.

“It was clear how bad she wanted the win, that kind of competitiveness just comes naturally to her,” said DP coach Leslie Wiggins Roth.

Before her final throw, Scarvelis got the crowd clapping in unison.

“She’s an incredible athlete who really committed and gave her all this season, we are all incredibly proud of her efforts.” said Roth.

Sapa, the CIF-SS Division 1 champion, took the lead with a mark of 47-1.75 on her fifth throw. The junior fouled on her final attempt.

Alemany freshman Nia Britt finished third with a throw of 46.08.75 and Nikki Okwelog of Clovis West took fourth at 46-7.50.