Lauren Poole '17 sets shot put record
Wilbraham & Monson Academy's Lauren Poole '17 knows how to make the most out of a bad situation.
After being prohibited from running and jumping events on the WMA Track & Field team following a gymnastics injury, Lauren concentrated on improving in her throwing events.
The result, remarkably, was a school record, with Lauren smashing the previous shot put mark by more than two feet with a throw of 33 feet, three inches.
"I decided I was going to make the best of the situation and focus on throwing shot put," Lauren said. "It worked out."
Lauren's record came at a meet at Cheshire Academy May 9. She missed the first four meets of the 2015 season before throwing 26 feet in the two competitions prior to the Cheshire meet.
"I worked on technique, and I got into the weight room a few times," she said. "But mainly I worked on my form."
That extra work produced a new school mark, with Lauren easily breaking the mark of 30-9, which was set by Kaitlin Camilleri in 2008.
"It feels awesome," Lauren said. "I'm so happy. And I'm only a sophomore so I feel I can beat my PR."
Lauren concluded her season by finishing second with a throw of 30-4.5 at the New England Prep School Track Association Division III Championship May 16 at the Hyde School in Woodstock, Conn.