Thorpe’s super discus spin earns state-qualifying throwing trifecta

CALN — As Upper Darby’s Kayla Thorpe went through her final practice for the District 1 Track & Field championships last Thursday, the junior thrower did not like her odds of medaling in the shot put, javelin and discus, let alone make the state meet in all three events.

That was especially true with the discus.

“My throws weren’t coming out right,” Thorpe said. “My hand wasn’t flat nor was I getting my heel to toe. I wasn’t coming through the circle all the way. I was throwing everything to the right.”

Whatever the issue was, Thorpe corrected it in a short period of time. She followed up a second-place finish in the Class 3A shot put and a third-place in the javelin Friday with a bronze medal effort in the discus.

Although no records exist, it is believed to be the first time a Delaware County athlete qualified for the PIAA Championships in all three throwing disciplines. Not only that, but she set personal records in all three events and school marks in the shot put and discus.

Thorpe’s throw of 125-10, which came on her first throw in the finals, completed the trifecta.

“The opposite happened today,” Thorpe said. “I was able to go through the circle. The only problem I had getting my left foot out faster and I needed to flatten my hand. Everything else was good … It was icing on the cake.”

Thorpe wasn’t the only Upper Darby athlete to have a big day. Senior Doninique Timmons picked up three medals Saturday. After setting a personal best in the 100-meter trials (12.21 seconds), Timmons took fourth in the final. She also was part of two medal-winning relay teams. Timmons teamed with Denize Cisco, Siani Barnes and Lina Salami to take sixth in the 4 x 100 relay. Timmons, Cisco, Camille Goodison and Ciara Hairston were fifth in the 4 x 400.

Timmons’ finish in the 100 was the first time the Royals earned a medal in that event since Shalaina Quattlebaum was second in 2007, coach Brad Gilbert said.

“I expected to come here and place and go to states and that happened, Timmons said. “I wanted to PR in the 100 and I did that.”

Earlier in the day Barnes took fifth in the triple jump to qualify for the state meet in that event for the second year in a row.

“My seniors are a special group and they had a great day,” Gilbert said.