Fulton senior Jonathan Roth has state’s top mark in first year of competing in shot put event.

Fulton senior Jonathan Roth has state’s top mark in first year of competing in shot put event.

By Steve Williams

Jonathan Roth’s first year in the shot put event could be a golden one.

The Fulton High senior, who helped lead the Falcons to a state championship in football last fall, has the top mark in the state in Division I Class A-AA, according to Tennessee Runner’s state rankings for high school outdoor track and field as of April 9.

Roth tossed the shot 47 feet, 4 inches in a meet at West on March 31.

“This is actually his first year ever throwing the shot put,” said Fulton coach Justin Long last week. “Hopefully, he’ll make it to Murfreesboro and be able to compete at the state. That would be awesome.”

The Falcons could end up with two in the state in the shot put. D.J. Campbell, also a standout in football, missed qualifying by “an inch or half-inch” at last season’s region meet, said Long. “Hopefully, he can make it this year.”

The competition between Roth and Campbell is good for both.

“They are battling it out pretty good in practice,” said Long. “If they continue to work on their technique, I think they can be good.

“They compete a lot and I appreciate that, because we’re just trying to get them better every day, so hopefully they can continue to grow.”

Roth (6-5, 260) played left tackle in Fulton’s offensive line and also was a defensive end. He signed a football scholarship with Middle Tennessee State University.

Campbell saw action as a running back and linebacker and also handled kickoff duties. He’ll be continuing his football career at Georgia Military College, where he will reunite with former Falcon offensive lineman Akeem Cooperwood, said Long.

Catholic has two individuals and a relay team ranked No. 1 in the state in D-I, A-AA.

Joe Binder has the top time (9:42.37) in the 3200-meter run and Irish teammate Johnathan Chavez is the 1600 leader with a 4:28.42. Catholic also has the best A-AA time in the 4×800 relay (8:59.06).

Rhett Elwood, Grace Christian Academy junior, has turned in the best performance (153-7) among the state’s A-AA discus throwers.

In Division I Class AAA, Hardin Valley Academy’s 4×800 relay team leads the state with an 8:10.88 effort.

Other standouts in Knox County this season include Karns’ Jamerial Parks in the 100 meters (11.01), Austin-East’s Gedarian Mobley in the 200 (22.69), Hardin Valley Academy’s Jose Parrilla in the 400 (51.11) and Catholic’s William Doktycz  in the 800 (2:05.16).

Dartanian Oakley of HVA has run 4:24.30 in the 1600.

Bearden’s Ty Chandler has sparkled in the hurdles, with times of 41.69 (300) and 16.44 (110).

In the relay events, West has posted a 44.05 in the 4×100, A-E a 1:33.44 in the 4×200 and HVA a 3:29.04 in the 4×400.

Field event standouts include Farragut’s Weldon Wright, who has leaped 21 feet, ¼ inch in the long jump and 44-3 in the triple jump. Bearden’s Joshua Sobota has a 48-10½ mark in the shot put. Lucas Campbell of Christian Academy has cleared 6-2 in the high jump.