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Big finish for Portage’s Bliss
Updated: June 4, 2011 10:19PM
BLOOMINGTON — With her ankle hurting, Portage’s Tori Bliss’ chances at a second straight state title in the discus were over early.
So Merrillville’s Nakel McClinton did her best to win the title for her friend and conference rival.
McClinton came up short in that attempt, but Bliss overcame her aches and pains to unleash a state record throw in winning her third straight state shot put title on Saturday in the IHSAA girls track and field state finals.
Bliss punctuated her winning throw of 50 feet, 9 inches in the shot put with a yell that resonated across the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex.
“It felt great to go out and compete and get after it today,” said Bliss, a senior who became just the third thrower in state history to win the shot put three straight years.
Bliss’ bid to add a second straight discus title was undone by the sore ankle that prevented her from getting the necessary torque on her throws. She finished 17th, with her best throw going 119-4.
“I knew I had to go out and redeem myself in the shot,” Bliss said. She did, overcoming a standout performance by Southridge’s Cassie Wertman, who also broke the state record, with a throw of 50-3.
Wertman took advantage of Bliss’ injury to win the discus with a throw of 143-4. She had to overcome McClinton, who went into the final round of throws in the lead.
McClinton finished second with a personal record 137-0 in the discus.
“I wanted to win it for (Tori), she was supposed to win today,” McClinton said. “But I came up short.”
Bliss said she was “honored” that McClinton would want to win the title for her.
“I know she’s going to come out here next year and fight hard and hopefully win both events,” Bliss said of McClinton, a junior. “For her to want to win for me, I’m definitely honored. It means a lot that someone else is looking out for me.”
Bliss also added the Robert S. Hinshaw Mental Attitude Award, given to a senior who excels “in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.”
“I’m at a loss for words,” she said. “It just shows that hard work the last 12 years, academically, athletically, it’s just all paid off.”
“She’s such a competitor,” said Portage throws coach Mark Harsha. “She puts in a lot of hard work, and it paid off.”
When Bliss’ mother, Debra, was told her daughter would be winning the mental attitude award, she cried.
“I was just so proud,” Debra Bliss said. “She’s a great kid, I’m really proud of her.”
Also earning podium finishes in the discus and shot put were Rensselaer’s Chelsie Meeks, fifth in the discus, and Michigan City’s Alana Rivera, ninth in the shot.
Other region competitors finishing ninth or higher: Taylor Gilles of Wheeler, fourth in the 100 hurdles; Jordan Chester of Boone Grove, fifth in the 1,600; Blaney Keough of Valparaiso, sixth in the 800; West Side’s 400 relay team of JaLynn Cheatham, Kortney Mabone, Ja’liza Prophet and Mercedez Washington, which finished sixth; Chayil Henderson of Bowman, seventh in the 400; Briana Williams of Munster, eighth in the long jump; and Tiara Reed of Hammond, ninth in the 200.
Lawrence North and Fort Wayne Northrop each scored 42 points to share the team state title, the first time that’s happened since 1996.
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