The record had stood since 1984.
Think about that.
It had been 13,528 days.
That was a total of 1,932 weeks and four days.
It had been exactly 37 years and two weeks.
Regardless of which measurement of time you choose to describe the duration in which Angie Barker of Elizabethton held the state shot put record, to say it's been a long time is an understatement.
That said, on Wednesday at Rockvale High School, and at approximately 10:30 AM central standard time, you could stop counting. The only measurement that matters now is the measurement of this throw.
Brentwood Academy Sophomore Mensi Stiff is now Tennessee's All-Time (and State Meet) Shot Put Record Holder with a distance of 48 feet, 11.5 inches, which obliterated the old record of 47-1.
Even her last throw in the series was record worthy at 47-4.5.
While that record fell, though, the discus mark controversially still stands. On Stiff's fourth throw, she was called for a foul on a throw that unofficially measured far enough to tie Barker at 155-8.
Even though she won the competition, that explains somewhat of the long face in her post meet interview.
At the end of June, Mensi will be traveling to Oregon to
compete in the NSAF Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field. At that meet and every
meet thereafter for the next two seasons, I suspect All-Time State Bests will
need updating.
