EVERETT — Shot put success is all in the family for Marlyn Anderson.
Anderson has the size (6-foot-4, 255 pounds), strength and speed to be a powerful thrower. The Snohomish High School junior’s bloodlines don’t hurt either.
From 1976-1981 Anderson’s uncle, John Anderson, and dad, Bruce Anderson, combined to win six consecutive state shot put titles (three each) at Naselle High, a tiny school near the Washington coast, a bit north of Astoria, Ore.
This season Marlyn Anderson hopes to add another championship to the family collection.
Anderson placed first in shot put Wednesday during day one of the Class 4A Northwest District Boys Track and Field Championship Meet at Everett Memorial Stadium. His winning throw (53 feet, 5.75 inches) came in his final attempt and bumped Lake Stevens’ Kelly Kurisu (52-6) into second place.
The top three finishers in each individual event and the top three relay teams qualify for the state meet May 23-24 in Pasco. The district meet concludes Friday. Field events begin at 5 p.m. and track events start at 6 p.m.
Anderson, who will try to qualify for state in the discus Friday, came into the week ranked No. 3 in 4A in the shot put, according to Athletic.net. Last year as a sophomore he placed 11th in 4A.
What has been the difference for Anderson this season?
“Just preparing myself better — running and lifting,” he said. Anderson said his goal is to throw at least 57 feet by season’s end.
Before his final throw Wednesday, Anderson wasn’t having a great day, said his dad, Bruce Anderson: “He had to just kind of dig down deep inside. When it comes down to pressure time you’ve got to perform.”
Another athlete who dug deep and rallied for victory was Joey Bywater of Lake Stevens. Bywater passed two runners in the final 150 meters en route to a triumph in the 1,600-meter race.
Bywater, who last year won state track titles in the 1,600 and 3,200, said he had hoped to lead the whole way. But for a while he fell into a large pack of competitors and his return trip to state was in question.
“For a minute I felt panic when I got back with a bunch of guys,” he said. “At one point I was like, ‘Alright, I just need to get top three.’ I just hung in there.”
Arguably more surprising than Bywater’s come-from-behind win was his post-race announcement that he won’t try to defend his 3,200 state title after winning the past two years. After slowly recovering from a foot injury he suffered during cross country season, Bywater doesn’t want to aggravate it by putting in too many miles.
“I just want to go into the summer healthy,” the University of Washington cross country/track recruit said.
In addition to the 1,600, Bywater said he hopes to qualify for state in the 800 and the 1,600 relay. The two latter finals are Friday.
Oak Harbor had two district-meet event winners. Rodrick Rumble placed first in the high jump, clearing 6 feet, 4 inches, and his teammates, Donavan Hunt, won the long jump (22-0.25)
Stanwood’s Matt Howard recorded state-meet qualifying times while winning the 800 and 1,600 wheelchair races.
At Everett Memorial Stadium
Team scores: 1. Lake Stevens 35.67, Tie-2. Oak Harbor and Snohomish 26, 4. Marysville-Pilchuck 21, 5. Stanwood 16.33, 6. Cascade 13, 7. Jackson 12, Tie-8. Kamiak and Edmonds-Woodway 10, Tie-10. Monroe and Mariner 6, 12. Shorewood 2.
State meet qualifiers from Wednesday finals (District meet concludes Friday)
1,600-1. Bywater (LS) 4:17.56, 2. Goodman (Sno) 4:18.26, 3. Cooper (Kam) 4:19.64; Shot put-1. Anderson (Sno) 53-5.75, 2. Kurisu (LS) 52-6, 3. Hatley (Stan) 46-8; High jump-1. Rumble (OH) 6-4, 2. Fellows (E-W) 6-2, 3. Greene (M-P) 6-2; Long jump-1. Hunt (OH) 22-0.25, 2. Abadam (M-P) 21-10, 3. Schmidt (Stan) 21-9.5; Wheelchair 800-1. Howard (Stan) 2:29.43; Wheelchair 1,600-1. Howard (Stan) 5:16.79.
Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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