Barber wins state hammer throw, Simon fifth

COLUMBUS — Rutgers University-bound Elmwood senior Anna Barber won the state championship in the hammer throw Sunday with a toss of 144 feet, 11 inches.

Barber was more than two inches better than Lancaster senior Peyton Wilson, who finished as runner-up with a throw of 142-7.

Riverdale sophomore Kinsey Shull (141-8) was third, followed by Norwayne senior Allison Morlock (141 feet) and Otsego sophomore Brooke Simon (135-6) placed fifth.

Both Barber and Simon finished higher than their seeds, and the third through seventh place finishers all set personal records, including Simon.

In sixth place was Huber Heights Wayne senior Ziaira Wilkerson (131-5), followed by Centerville senior Mariah Francis (125 feet), and Centerville senior Victoria Kuol (123-5) rounding out the top eight.

It is not an Ohio High School Athletic Association sanctioned event, but hosted by the state track coaches at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the campus of Ohio State University one day after the OHSAA meet concludes.

One difference is there is one division for all schools, so Barber had to win her state title against competitors from larger schools.

It is Barber's second state title within a year after winning the indoor state championship in the weight throw during the winter season.

It was also redemption because Barber was also hoping to compete for a state discus championship, but that fell through when she fouled on every attempt at the regional meet. It also may have been a blessing in disguise.

"Since regionals, I’ve had a little bit of time to get myself back up and running, so it has given me a lot of time to think about my mistakes and move on," Barber said.

"It really gave me a lot of time to practice hammer and just focus on that solely. The past two weeks have been good," Barber continued.

"I have been practicing a crazy amount of time, but I ironed out the kinks and today it just showed what I’ve been doing all year and it finally worked out."

Plus, Barber was seeded second and Simon eighth, so the Wood County throwers went out and showed Ohio what they were capable of.

"It's kind of the way it happened in the weight throw as well," Barber said. "Brooke Simon in the weight throw was seeded first and I was seeded second.

"It really did bring me back to that because you know you are capable of winning first place, but you must prove it, and to everybody else. Honestly, that is the way I like going in, as the underdog. You have everything to prove and everything to lose."

Simon smashed her previous personal record, which even caught her off guard.

"Today honestly came as a little bit of a surprise," Simon said. "I went in there ranked eighth and ended up placing fifth with an eight-foot PR, which was pretty nice.

"Especially for the fact that I practice it three to five times per year, it's nice. So, being limited and able to practice it a few times a year and placing fifth at the state was very nice."

For Simon it was redemption, too, because she qualified for state in the discus, but did not reach the finals. The hammer throw is a different motion than discus, often described as backwards, and throwers say it takes different mechanics.

"Shot and disc, for me at least, as a rotator, I’m kind of starting in the back of the circle with a very wide stance, and I come around with my left leg and land on my right, come around that again, and turn to face the front and I just release there," Simon said.

"But for hammer, it's like you start with a stance facing the back of the ring and you are turning on your heel and placing your foot down to keep you spinning multiple times," Simon continued.

"It's very hard to describe the difference in technique, but it is very different. The other thing it's like is the weight throw, but even then, there are many differences."

Now, the two move on, each in their own direction. Barber, who has been under the tutelage of Justin Carvalho of the Northwest Ohio Throws Academy in Mount Blanchard ever since seventh grade, heads to Rutgers, while Simon, who trains with Otsego and Patrick Henry coaches, prepares for next year.

"Anna and I are close for track," Simon said. "I’m kind of sad that she is leaving, but I’m glad that I did get to experience her winning state and me placing at it.

"Moving forward, I plan within the next year I want to accomplish a lot more than what I did this year. Overall, I’m just hoping to keep training, keep getting better, and hopefully start getting looked at by coaches at the collegiate level," Simon added.

Barber, who also starred on the Elmwood basketball team through her junior year, says the hammer throw was tough because it was her last event competing as a high school athlete.

"It was emotional for me today after the discus at regionals and everything," Barber said. "Now, it is OK, high school is done, and we get to move on, and it was just a better way to finish it out with a state championship."

Elmwood throws coach Kevin Mermin says it will pay for Barber to be prepared to throw the hammer and the weight throw, because they are sanctioned NCAA events.

"It's a little bit different because you can get a little more momentum," Mermin said. "I think she can use her strength a little bit better than she can in the disc."