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Elissa Longmire swept the swept both throwing events for Division I Class AAA last year and returns as the #2 Discus thrower and #3 shot putter this season. She is committed to Duke to continue her throwing career at the collegiate level.
Wide Open Events
Girls Throws
Ever since I took over as editor in 2021, one name has dominated both the shot put and discus on the girls side; Mensi Stiff. With her graduation, the door now opens for others to enter the limelight. The question I have is whether or not we have a split leaderboard this year or will one thrower lead both disciplines. Historically, if you view any year of the past two decades at random, it's about a 60/40 split on whether or not you'll see the same name at the end of the season or different:
- Different Leaders Shot and Disc: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014,
- Same Leader Shot and Disc: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Based on returners, we're entering this season with split leaders. Martin Luther King's LaNaya Roberts leads all discus throwers with a 137-5 and York Institute's Reese Beaty leads all shot putter's with a 42-9. Both throwers won these respective events last spring; Roberts in Division I Class AA and Beaty (who swept both events) in Division I Class A.
LaNaya Roberts after winning her second state title in a row in the Discus.
Returner Rankings: Shot Put | Discus
However, if someone will does take over both events, there's no shortage of candidates who could. Here's a look at the Top 30 throwers based on their distances combined. When you look at it this way, it's easy to see why these events will have added intrigue in 2024.
Rank | Thrower | Discus | Shot Put | Combined |
| 1 | Elissa Longmire - Jefferson County High School | 134-4 | 40-7.75 | 174-11.75 |
| 2 | Gracie Waite - Hardin Valley Academy | 131-10 | 41-6.75 | 173-4.75 |
| 3 | LaNaya Roberts - Martin Luther King High School | 137-5 | 35-4.25 | 172-9.25 |
| 4 | Reese Beaty - Alvin C. York Institute | 116-5 | 42-9 | 159-2 |
| 5 | Miley Presnell - Knoxville Youth Athletics | 120-7 | 37-5 | 158-0 |
| 6 | Erica McGary - Harding Academy | 116-10 | 36-1.5 | 152-11.5 |
| 7 | Beyonca Lovelace Coleman - Martin Luther King High School | 112-8 | 36-4.75 | 149-0.75 |
| 8 | Ci'Anna Gales - White Station High School | 116-7 | 32-4.5 | 148-11.5 |
| 9 | Sophia Hughes - Oak Ridge High School | 113-11 | 33-10.25 | 147-9.25 |
| 10 | Abbey Cox - West Greene High School | 113-2 | 33-11.5 | 147-1.5 |
| 11 | Alana Perkins - Haywood High School | 111-11 | 33-6.5 | 145-5.5 |
| 12 | Toju Williams - Rockvale High School | 107-0 | 38-4 | 145-4 |
| 13 | Sania Mcghee - Rutherford County Track Club | 109-10 | 35-3.75 | 145-1.75 |
| 14 | China Giaimo - Bartlett High School | 105-6 | 39-6.5 | 145-0.5 |
| 15 | Debrionna Jones - Union City High School | 109-10 | 34-10.25 | 144-8.25 |
| 16 | Tessel Visser - Lipscomb Academy | 109-6 | 35-1 | 144-7 |
| 17 | Tyra Benton - St. George's Independent School | 109-5 | 35-1 | 144-6 |
| 18 | Maddie Winchester - Baylor School | 109-5 | 35-1 | 144-6 |
| 19 | Amanda Parker - Bearden High School | 112-8 | 32-2 | 144-10 |
| 20 | Hannah Rich - Chester Co. High School | 108-0 | 33-4.5 | 141-4.5 |
| 21 | Keely Canter - Tennessee High School | 106-5 | 34-3 | 140-8 |
| 22 | Lilly Kapanka - Harpeth Hall School | 109-10 | 28-4 | 138-2 |
| 23 | Jackie Hardrick - Riverdale High School | 104-11 | 32-3 | 137-2 |
| 24 | Maggie Frana - Knoxville Catholic High School | 104-6 | 32-6 | 137-0 |
| 25 | Hannah Stokely - Morristown-East High School | 102-3 | 32-6 | 134-9 |
| 26 | Cheri Savage - Cookeville High School | 101-5 | 33-1 | 134-6 |
| 27 | Autumn Wynn - David Crockett High School | 100-1 | 34-10.5 | 134-11.5 |
| 28 | Farah House - Girls Preparatory School | 99-1 | 33-4 | 132-5 |
| 29 | Scarlett Kelch - Girls Preparatory School | 104-2 | 28-2.5 | 132-4.5 |
| 30 | Cassie Gallagher - Cookeville High School | 95-0 | 36-6.75 | 131-6.75 |
Stats include scholastic and club performances.