Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – Colin Whitters showed he had a way with words on Thursday.

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound West High junior quipped to reporters that he would let a runner-up finish in the Class 4A discus ruin his dinner that night but not his breakfast the next morning.

On Friday Whitters back up his quote while showing a flair for the dramatic.

Whitters won the 4A shot put title on his final throw on Friday during a big day for West High at the state track and field meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

“I feel like I throw better with a little bit of pressure,” Whitters said. “I think it was just James (Barnett) pushing me all season and that was really good for me.”

Whitters trailed Cedar Rapids Kennedy junior Shem Mally entering the final throw of the event.

That’s when Whitters uncorked his winning throw of 57-11 ¼ to claim the first state title of his career.

“Obviously the discus stung yesterday but (Davenport West senior) Nolan (Dempsey) is a great thrower,” Whitters said. “I hate second place so this was good to get on my last throw.”

Whitters becomes the third discus champion in West High history and first since Landon Green won the 4A crown in 2018.

Mally was runner-up with a throw of 56-8 ¾ while West High freshman James Barnett was third with a toss of 53-11.

“I am just happy,” Whitters said. “Me and James we were trying to go one and two but Shem is a great kid, a great thrower so I am happy for him as well but James, third isn’t bad as a freshman.”

Whitters opened the competition with a throw of 55-2 to take the top spot and seemed to have control until Mally posted a throw of 56-8 ¾ to take the lead on his fifth attempt.

It was up to Whitters to respond and after a foul on his fifth attempt he came up big on his last throw.

“As soon as it left my hand it felt flat but I knew it was good,” Whitters said. “Usually when it feels light you know it is going far.”

The title from Whitters, an Iowa football commit, and the third-place finish from Barnett was part of a huge day for West Higi that vaulted the Trojans into second place in the 4A team standings with 43 points.

Mason Woods won the long jump as 26 of the 32 points scored by the Trojans on came in field events.

Of the 43 team points for West High this week 35 have come in field events.

West High trails Cedar Falls by six points entering the final session on Saturday while West Des Moines Dowling is third with 38.5 points and Ankeny is fourth with 32.

“My throwing coaches at the beginning of the season had to beg me to take a rest day,” Whitters said. “Me and (coach) Ty Harren we were going out every day and we knew that end of the season goal was to sweep state and we didn’t quite do that but that motivates me even more to do it next year.”

Class 4A State Track Meet

Boys Results

Team scores (top 10/area teams) – 1. Cedar Falls 49; 2. West High 43; 3. West Des Moines Dowling 38.5; 4. Ankeny 32; 5. Ankeny Centennial 22; 6. Johnston 20; 7. Norwalk 15.5; 8. Dallas Center-Grimes 15; 9. West Des Moines Valley 14; 10. Waukee 13.5; 11. City High 12

Individual results (event winners; area competitors)

400 hurdles – 1. Jaxon Schreiber (Cedar Falls) 52.53; 11. Ely Smock (West High) 54.26; 22. Quinton Logan (Liberty High) 56.88

4×200 – 1. Ankeny Centennial 1:25.63; 8. West High (Mason Woods, Julian Manson, Mason Goering, Harel Gameti) 1:27.74

Distance medley relay – 1. West Des Moines Dowling 3:24.6; 4. West High (Mason Woods, Julian Manson, Mason Goering, Moustafa Tiea) 3:27.12

Long jump – 1. Mason Woods (West High) 23-4 ½; 9. Bernoli Luvandu (West High) 21-4 ½; 18. Damari Lacy (City High) 20-2 ½;

Shot put – 1. Colin Whitters (West High) 57-11 ¼; 3. James Barnett (West High) 53-11; 11. Tyler Rindels (City High) 49-8 ½; 18. Raphael Etuma (City High) 47-11 ¼

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