Savannah Jackson
MUNCIE – Savannah Jackson’s discus throws on May 27, 2014, left a lot to be desired. For her, because of her natural athletic ability and strength. And for one of her coaches at Central, because of the untapped potential in the then-junior who had just started throwing the previous year.
Jackson’s three throws at the Ben Davis Regional that day were 86 feet, 1 inch and two scratches. While she took fifth in the shot put, an event she had spent the year training for, she was last out of 16 competitors in the discus.
Now, an event that used to be an afterthought is the focus for Jackson as she competes Tuesday in the Delta Sectional.
“I’ve gotten progressively better,” Jackson said, “and that kind of attracted me to it.”
Jackson’s best throw this season is 126-9, and she’s aiming to hit the state-qualifying mark of 128-3. At a meet two weeks ago, she threw 130 but she stepped on the line and was disqualified.
“Those moments you see, ‘You can do it,’ ” said assistant coach Angela Dildy, who coaches the throwers. “She just has to keep that positive attitude, because sometimes it’ll get you down. You throw well but make a mistake, it can be hard to come back from. Keeping her positive is the biggest thing right now.”
Dildy knows talent when she sees it. A 2001 graduate of Central, she still holds both the shot put and discus school records.
The turning point for Jackson was giving up club volleyball and focusing solely on track in the spring after doing both as a sophomore. Then Dildy went to work on the raw Jackson, whose natural ability led Dildy to believe big gains could be on the horizon. And they were, as she won the shot put at sectionals last year and was second in discus.
Jackson loves to lift weights — she says there no such thing as lifting light and her motto is “go hard or go home” — but she’s become enthralled with the intricacies of a good throw, which has taken her to another level this season. Jackson can now regularly critique herself to Dildy and correct her mistakes.
“She’s working, and you can tell,” Dildy said. “It’s nice to have that, because a lot of athletes come out and just do it. She comes out and wants to understand the craft and the technique, like, ‘Why am I doing this?’ That always helps.”
Winning at sectionals isn’t as big of a priority for Jackson, who is currently ranked fifth in the state in shot put and sixth in discus according to Athletic.net. Hitting the state marks — which means improving from 39-2 to 40-11 in shot put — that’s a different story.
“I think her pressure is getting that mark we know she can get,” said Tara Grudger, who has coached Central since 2001 and counts Jackson among the best throwers she’s ever coached.
“It’s just about getting there now.”
Contact sports features writer Ryan O’Gara at (765) 213-5829. Follow him on Twitter @RyanOGaraTSP.
Girls Track & Field Sectionals
• Delta, 5 p.m.: Cowan, Delta, Jay County, Monroe Central, Muncie Burris, Muncie Central, Union (Modoc), Wapahani, Wes-Del, Winchester, Yorktown.
• Pendleton Heights, 5:15 p.m.: Blue River Valley, Daleville, New Castle.
• Marion, 5:30 p.m.: Blackford