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LOCK HAVEN -- Loyalsock's Zaryah Hawkins-Pegues started out throwing great in the shot put competition on Saturday at the Lock Haven High School Classic. Her first throw was 35 feet, 1 3/4 inches and from there, the Lancer was zoned in.
For her first three throws, Hawkins-Pegues kept improving.
That 35-1 3/4 turned into a 35-4 1/2 on her second attempt. When she let go on her third attempt, she saw it land with a distance of 36 6 1/4.
She didn't walk away with a title in the shot put on Saturday, but she made her mark in the event, that's for sure.
Hawkins-Pegues set a PR, the Loyalsock freshman school record and broke the overall school record in the shot put with her throw of 36-6 1/4.
She's only a freshman, but she's showing the district she's a thrower that can make some noise.
"I feel like I did really well with my throws," Hawkins-Pegues said.
That she did.
The only athletes who placed higher than the Lancer on Saturday were Mount Carmel's Liv Kopitsky, who won with a throw of 39-7 1/4, and Kihlee Noel of Altoona, who took second with a throw of 36-9.
For Hawkins-Pegues, it meant a lot for her to reach those milestones on Saturday.
"To be able to beat the school record, it just pushes me to do more and like re-break it and keep going," Hawkins-Pegues said. "I feel like being my first year in high school, I actually get to do more things."
Hawkins-Pegues was one of just two Lycoming County athletes to place in the top-10. She was joined by Jersey Shore's Nina Steppe who was an eighth-place finisher. The only other District 4 athlete in the top-10 aside from Hawkins-Pegues, Kopitsky and Steppe was Lewisburg's Gwynn Rowe.
Being in her first year of varsity competition, Hawkins-Pegues has stepped up against tough competition and doesn't let a bad throw mess up her headspace. She keeps focused and keeps doing what she does best.
And competing with great shot put athletes like Kopitsky, a returning District 4 qualifier from Mount Carmel, and Altoona's Noel, help push Hawkins-Pegues to throw her best.
"You see more competition and especially seeing what flights you're in and who you have to go against, I feel it pushes me to do better," Hawkins-Pegues said.
Don't think Hawkins-Pegues is satisfied with her PR though already. There's still time left until districts and Hawkins-Pegues is hoping to throw even farther.
"I feel like I can do better even if I'm not at my best," Hawkins-Pegues said. "I feel like it can be better."
No doubt Hawkins-Pegues will be pushing her PR sooner rather than later.