Defending "AAA" state champion shot putter Courtney McCartney from Selinsgrove gets in a few throws here in the last few months of fall on this brand new cement circle throwing area recently finished by her coach Troy Hess on his parents farm in Juniata County some 10 miles south of Selinsgrove.
"Yes it's really nice. I trained on it this summer. I know it's cold now, but we can't really train, but you know it's going to be good for future kids that come out and if I come back in the summer I can definitely use it again," said Courtney McCartney.
With her two outdoor and one indoor state titles-Courtney just received a full ride to Arizona State University next fall. She plans on throwing the shot put.
"I'm really excited. Arizona State has a great program and it's really nice out there so I can train all year outside," again said Courtney.
"It's nice because it builds confidence for the big meets. She knows when she gets to the big meets that she paid the price," said Troy Hess.
"Their out here all the time. She's constantly training and her results speak for themselves being a three-time state champion and an All-American," said Jeffrey Kiss the Selinsgrove Track and Field Head Coach.
There's no rest for Courtney fresh off an outstanding fall season playing goal keeper for the Selinsgrove field hockey team. The indoor season starts right away in January she will be in New York City competing in the New Balance games against some of the elite throwers from across the country.
"With the state record I just go out and throw as far as I can every time. I just work on my positions mostly in the circle and it a big throws comes out of it that's always nice," added Courtney.
Courtney's throw of 49 feet 1/4 inch at states in May won her the state title. Now she hopes to go back-to-back and break that state record of 50 feet 1/2 inch.