The Steamboat Pilot & Today

I have a confession to make.

In Friday’s article previewing Hayden’s trip to the state track meet, I stretched the truth. I made it sound like junior shot putter Holli Salazar could win the state championship.

“She might be the Tigers’ best chance at a state champion,” I wrote. That was basically true. While Hayden’s other main competitors — the girls 3,200-meter relay team and Jake Walker in the 100 dash and long jump — all had the chance to medal, Salazar was the only team member basically assured of it. Barring a total meltdown, she would finish in the top four, an “awesome achievement” for an athlete who finished 13th at the same event a year ago.

Fourth really would have been great, but state champion? Come on. Her all-time best throw was 22-1/4 inches behind that of her top competition. That’s nearly 2 feet — it might as well have been 2 miles.

Sure, Salazar had the “best chance” to win a state championship, but by the same logic, I have the best chance among my college buddies to win a medal skiing in the Olympics. I never will, but I’m the only one who lives within 10 hours of a mountain.

That was all before Salazar redefined the term “awesome achievement.”

Salazar, on her second toss of the shot put competition, recorded the best mark in Class 2A this season en route to winning the very championship I thought was out of reach. She went from fourth to first with one hurl and did so with nearly 9 inches to spare.

That’s insane, and even more so considering the season that throw capped off.

I’ve written a lot of Salazar stories in the past two months. Her best throw at last year’s state meet was 34 feet, 1 1/4 inches. This season, she pre-qualified for the state meet, surpassing the required mark of 35 feet, 2 inches in early April.

I made a big deal of it. It was a big deal.

Next, she took control of the school record, previously set at 36 feet, 7 inches, with a toss of 37 feet, 4 1/2 inches.

I made a big deal about that, too, and it was a big deal.

She continued to stretch the record, to 37 feet, 8 1/2 inches, then to 39 feet, 1 inch last week at regionals.

That’s a 5-foot increase. She extended her personal best by a small person before her throws at the state track meet. There, she added more than two extra feet. She increased her best by 7 feet, 6 1/2 inches. In one season, she increased by one Yao Ming.

It’s just a shame Salazar’s season is over. At this rate, she’d break the 2A state record — 43 feet, 3 inches — next week. On a slightly sobering note, it would probably take her until June to break the overall girls state record of 50 feet, 1 inch.

So, finally, I’m sorry. I misrepresented Holli Salazar when I said she had a chance to win the state championship. Obviously, what I meant to write was: “Holli Salazar, a sure thing to become a state champion.”