Class 2A-1A boys track and field -- Buchanan waits to take shot put victory

FULL STORY -YAKIMA Herald-

TACOMA -- Jonathan Buchanan was uneasy about stepping into the shot put ring for the first time Saturday morning. But later, when victory required his best throw on the final attempt, that was no problem.

"I guess I was a little nervous about being the top seed," said the East Valley junior. "I didn't want to choke."

Choke? How about clutch.

Leading the shot put through four rounds at the Class 2A state track championships, Buchanan saw his lead suddenly disappear when Arie Cottrell of R.A. Long, sitting fourth, unleashed a career-best throw of 55 feet, 61/2 inches in the fifth of six rounds.

Trailing by a foot, Buchanan responded with 52-101/2 on his fifth throw, leaving one last chance.

"At that point I really wasn't nervous for some reason," he said. "I knew I had more in me."

He did indeed, firing out a final throw to 55-10 for the victory.