Published: May 07, 2008 02:42 pm            

Newton’s Brown shoots for shotput gold in 2A

Senior has best distance in 2A this year, finished third last year

NEWTON — Newton’s Natalya Brown is trying to put her name with some of the legendary names of Newton past such as Bender and Moncrief.

Brown will attempt to bring another state championship home this week when she goes to Jackson and participates in the shotput and discus at the Class 2A track meet.

Brown qualified for the 2A meet by winning the 2A South State meet last week at St. Andrews where she recorded a distance of 37 feet, eight inches in the shotput. According to coach Ed McGowan, that distance was a South 2A record as well as a Newton High School record and a record for that field. She has also won every meet she has entered this year.

“She had an excellent day,” McGowan said. “She has worked really hard this year on her strength and her technique. I think she has a very good chance to bring home a state title.”

Brown finished third in the state last year and seems to be the favorite going in as her 37-8 distance is the best recorded time in 2A this year. Last year, a throw of 36 feet won the event.

McGowan said Brown also had an excellent year on the softball field where she was MVP of the team. But it’s not softball or shotput that brings a smile to McGowin’s face.

“She is such a smart girl,” McGowan said. “She recently got offered a scholarship to Mississippi College to be on the track team there. And I have no doubt that she will be able to go over there and make the grades. I’m just so happy for her.”

        

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