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‘Not again!’ In anticipated rematch, Jewyl Newton of St. Mary’s Academy outlasts West Salem’s Natalie Cunningham for 6A girls shot put crown

“Hey, one throw only matters. That first throw, I just got it out there. And she did her best, too, so I’m proud of her, too.”

By René Ferrán | Photo by Taylor Balkom 

A month ago at the Jesuit Twilight Relays, St. Mary’s Academy senior Jewyl Newton thought she’d pulled out victory in the shot put when she threw 43 feet, 5 inches, on her final attempt. 

Instead, West Salem senior Natalie Cunningham answered with a throw that sailed a half-inch farther to win the title.

Newton still had that afternoon in mind as she entered Hayward Field in Eugene on Saturday for the Class 6A shot put competition at the OSAA track and field championships.

“Definitely, I came in with the mindset of, Not again!” Newton said.

And on her first throw, she tossed the shot 43-11¾, just a half-inch off her career best, to lay the gauntlet to the rest of the field.

Jewyl Newton Taylor Balkom

“That definitely gives me the opportunity to have more fun,” Newton said. “You don’t have to worry about getting a good one out there.” 

The rest of the day, she kept hitting the toe board, affecting her plant foot for her remaining throws, but that first throw held up the rest of the day — even when Cunningham threw a personal-best 43-7¾ on her first throw of the final rounds.

“Hey, one throw only matters,” said Newton, a Cal State Northridge signee. “That first throw, I just got it out there. And she did her best, too, so I’m proud of her, too.” 

Best photos from Day 2 of 6A, 5A, 4A Oregon high school track and field state championships