San Antonio Shot Put Preview

6A Boys

There are not a lot of numbers back for the 6A boys in the area, but that does not mean there will not be fireworks. East Central's Michael Pinones is one of the top throwers in the country and is among the very best track and field athletes in San Antonio. He won every shot put event he entered last year except at the State meet where he took second place. He brings consistency and super high-quality, throwing over 60-feet in every meet.

After Pinones, there are a pair of returning 50-foot throwers returning to the area, Ray Espinoza (East Central) and Travion Smith (Clemens). Pinones and Espinoza are an amazing 1-2 punch and should give East Central 16-18 points at every invitational. Smith is third on the list and has thrown 52-2.75. Churchill's Jaden May should join the 50-foot club quickly this year after throwing 49-11. Steele's Makai Williams and Brandeis' Rafe Clendenin have each thrown around 47-feet.

6A Girls

The 6A girls have more depth than the boys, but not nearly the star-power. The top returner is Jaidenn Lambert of Churchill. She was the district champion last year with a throw of 39-10 but did not compete at the Area meet. She heads into 2023 as the third-ranked shot putter in the entire Region. Warren's Janaiya Crosby finished fifth in the Region a year ago and is one of four returners who competed at the meet.

The others who made it to the Regional meet were Gia Booth (Judson), Nariah Lee (Stevens) and Alexis Owens (Harlan). Owens was the best of the bunch last year, but was neck-and-neck with Booth at the Regional meet. Steele has three solid returners in the fold this year: Alyssa Goodman, Ti'miah Jackson-Allen and Jada Williams. All three have thrown over 34-feet.

5A Boys

It should come as no surprise that the majority of the top shot putters in 5A last year were seniors which means that it could be wide open this year in the area. Canyon's Aidan Peddycoart is currently the favorite after finishing fifth in the Region last year and throwing a season best of 52-6.5. Boerne Champion's Connor Warzecha is second on the list and has nearly hit 50-feet in the past. He is also the #1 discus thrower in the area.

Canyon and Champion seem to have a stranglehold in the event in San Antonio. In addition to Peddycoart, Canyon has two others over 42-feet, Quang Dao and Daniel Perez. Champion also has two others who have throw over 42-feet, Nico Lopez and Riley Wampler. Thomas Colligan (Alamo Heights) and Gavin Garcia (Smithson Valley) are two more shot putters who might try to make a claim as the best in the area before the year is out.

5A Girls

The 5A girls are strong in many events, but the shot put appears to be one that will be a little weaker than normal this year. There are no true dominant throwers in the area so it is quite possible that a newcomer could come in and immediately be the best around. Right now, Canyon's Megan Hawkins is the top returner after throwing 34-5 last year and that was only good for fifth place at the Area meet. Just like on the boys side, the Canyon girls have a solid contingent of shot putters with four of the top seven returners in the division.

Sam Houston's Amya Miller-Singleton and Boerne Champion's Hailee Goodwin slot in as the second and third-best returners. Canyon's Presley Patek is one who could take a big step forward this year after throwing 33-0 as a freshman.

4A Boys

The 4A boys are unlike the 5A and 6A boys in that there are a lot of strong shot putters returning to the area. Pearsall has the two best with Gavino Gutierrez and Joseph De La Rosa. Gutierrez is a double threat who also excels in the discus. Last year, Gutierrez was fifth in the Region in shot put and had a best throw of 48-10. De La Rosa has a top mark of 47-6.

There are four returners who have all thrown at least 44-feet led by Boerne's Kaiden Fischer who has thrown 46-6. Helijah Johnson (Canyon Lake) and Gary Seidenberger (Fredericksburg) are the next two after Fischer. Seidenberger is an interesting athlete who is also one of the top 110-meter hurdlers in the area. One of the best names comes from this group as well in Boerne's Stonewall McCracken.

4A Girls

Boerne senior Tori Adams is the class of the division after taking home State runner-up honors in the shot put last year. She had a best throw of 44-4 and was over 40-feet in every meet last year. She has scored at the State meet two years in a row and should make it three.

While Adams is the best individual in the area, the best group of throwers comes from Fredericksburg where they have five girls among the top 10 returners and each has thrown over 32-feet. Two of their best are sophomores Madison Wright (38-7.75) and Reese Sagebiel (35-11.25). Overall, there are 10 girls returning who have thrown over 32-feet.

3A Boys

Last year, the 3A boys were home to Great Heart Northern Oaks' John Hanson who was the State champion in the discus and shot put and now plies his trade at Purdue University. This year, there will not likely be anyone in the same Stratosphere as Hanson. Cotulla's Robert Sanchez is the top returner after throwing 42-4.5 last year and is one of only three 40-foot returners. The other two are Nathan Min of Randolph and Mario Diaz of Lytle.

There are an additional four returners who have all thrown at least 39-feet, including Kyle Romans and Jaxson Griscom from Randolph. Cole's Kenny Atunrase is an interesting case. He has thrown 39-10 and is also a 20-foot long jumper.

3A Girls

There are three or four in this division that could contend for a Regional title by the end of the Spring. The top contender is Marion's Sarah Cook who was fifth place last year and threw 35-2. Janae Galindo only competed at one meet last year, but still threw the shot 34-4 in that meet. She has previously competed at the Regional meet in 2021.

The rest of the top is led by Elsie Keizer from Great Hearts Northern Oaks who is also the top discus thrower in the area. Dakota San Miguel (Dilley) and Amelia Lissy (Poth) round out the top five and have each thrown over 32-feet.

Other Boys

I am combining the private schools, smaller public schools and home school athletes into one group. Michael Estrada from FEAST narrowly missed being the top returning discus thrower and shot putter in the area. Only Central Catholic's Luke Funk has thrown it farther than Estrada, 48-9. FEAST has another thrower, Luke Ramirez, who is among the top five returners.

The top small public-school thrower is Ian Reyes of D'Hanis. He has thrown the shot over 44-feet. Cornerstone Christian has dominated the small TAPPS divisions with a trio of 39-foot throwers: Jace Dawson, Keegan Garcia and Cory Garcia.

Other Girls

Bracken Christian's Sophia Grinstead is the top discus thrower and shot putter in the area. She has thrown it nearly 39-feet and will be one of the top throwers around regardless of school size. There are three other girls who have thrown at least 36-feet including Ava Welch of San Antonio Christian, Cayla Albers of Falls City and Emily Easton of Cornerstone Christian.

In all there 10 total throwers in the group who have eclipsed 30-feet. Boerne Gevena has two, Kenzie Cates and Avery Myrick, who have both thrown 32-feet. Nicole Duke of Utopia is the top UIL 1A shot putter in the area with a top mark of 31-3.

* Please note that all times are taken from the MileSplit website. There is always a possibility that someone I mentioned no longer competes for the school they did last year or that they are even competing in track and field anymore. These articles are just a very early preview of the upcoming season.