WALDEN CAPTURES STATE TITLE

Western senior Ellyse Walden turned in a dominant performance to win the shot put title at the IHSAA Girls Track and Field State Finals on Friday at North Central High School in Indianapolis.

Walden quickly removed any suspense as her first attempt went 46 feet, 0.5 inches. No other thrower topped 45-0 in any of their attempts.

Walden’s fourth attempt was her best — 47-8.5. She is Western’s girls state champion track and field since Michelle Faulkner won the 800-meter run in 1989.

"What a great night for Ellyse. She got things rolling on her initial throw and then added to it," Western coach Gary Jewell said. "This has been the goal all along. And [Friday] she more than exceeded that goal."

To put Walden’s winning margin of 2 feet, 11.5 inches, Jewell said that exceeds former Panther Tyler Gilbert’s combined winning distances in discus at the boys state meet in 2017 and ‘18.

Walden also made the podium in discus where her best mark of 138-9 was good for sixth place. The top nine finishers in each event made the podium and received a medal.