TRK: Scarvelis repeats as state shot put champion

Stamatia Scarvelis of Dos Pueblos successfully defended her title in the girls shot put at the CIF State Track and Field Championships in Clovis on Saturday night.

Stamatia Scarvelis won her second straight state title in the shot put and finished third in the discus

Stamatia Scarvelis won her second straight state title in the shot put and finished third in the discus

Scarvelis threw 50-7.75 on her final attempt to win the gold medal. Earlier, she placed third in the discus.

Scarvelis, a junior who threw a national-best 51-11 in Friday?s prelims, got off to a slow start and trailed La Sierra?s Tanya Sapa after the first two rounds of the finals. Sapa finished second with a throw of 50-0.25. Scarvelis had throws of 42-10 and 48-3.25 before uncorking a heave of 50-3.75 to take the lead. Sapa was leading with a mark of 48-8.50.

“It makes me really happy to be state champion again,” Scarvelis told reporters. “At the same time, I’m pumped to try and win both events next year. But for now, I am satisfied that I achieved my main goal of repeating.”

In the discus, Scarvelis threw 149-6 and was edged out for second place by Sapa, who went 151-2.

Nikki Okwelogu of Clovis West won the title with a state-best (and No. 2 in the nation) mark of 173-9. She threw 170-6 in Friday?s prelims.