By Derrick Forsythe, Record Sports Editor
Emotions still raw from a disappointing finish last season, Melanie Raterman was cautiously optimistic. She remembered wiping away the tears of frustration a year ago, when aggravating shoulder pain prevented her from advancing to the finals at the MSHSAA Championships. It’s why the Warrenton senior reserved celebration until after her fate as an all-state discus thrower was secure on Saturday. “I’m really glad that I could get a medal for Warrenton and become all-state,” said Raterman, who finished sixth among Class 3 throwers. “It’s a big relief.” She heaved a distance of 123 feet, five inches in the finals. Even after making the preliminary cut, Raterman was aware she still wasn't in the clear. Only eight of the nine finalists were privileged to stand atop the podium, hardware proudly displayed around their necks. “I’m really excited,” she expressed. “I wasn’t really expecting to finish this high, but I got close to my personal record, so I was pretty confident.” Feeling healthy and at full strength, Raterman continued the success she had experienced en route to becoming the sectional champion a week earlier. “I felt pretty good after my first throw went out at 119,” recalled Raterman. “I was able to throw that distance again in prelims and then during finals I had my best throw of the week.” She consistently threw in the 117- to 119-feet range during preliminaries. “Melanie gave us exactly what we were looking for, improving her distances a little each time,” said Coach Mike Spoede. “I’m thrilled for her to come back and redeem herself.” Entering the meet as the thirteenth seed, it appeared she would need a career-best toss to return home with a medal. “I didn’t really expect to make it into finals because of where I was seeded,” said Raterman. But Spoede knew previous distances wouldn’t render her incapable. “We kind of take that with a grain of salt," he asserted. “A lot of times the seeding can be deceiving.” A steady, crisp performance on Raterman's part trumped sloppy tosses by opponents that often resulted in fouls. Raterman says she was feeling added pressure, knowing she was Warrenton’s only remaining chance at a medal following a letdown in other events on Friday. “I was feeling the pressure,” she acknowledged. “I was worried, because I was the last chance for Warrenton to get a medal.” Her final distance was the second-best of her career, just shy of her personal record. She will look to surpass those marks as she pursues a college throwing career at Missouri State University. “I can’t be any happier for Melanie,” said Spoede. “She’s worked extremely hard and is quite deserving.” UNDESIRABLE ENDING For sophomore Madeline Carlson, the state meet was a far less desirable experience. Six laps into her two-mile race, she was forced to the inside of the track by a competitor attempting to jockey for position. Carlson stepped awkwardly on the guardrail, suffering a sprained ankle. It spelled the end of her all-state hopes. “When I was running it felt like I couldn’t go any faster,” recalled Carlson. “It was more difficult than any other race I had run this season.” Carlson had fallen near the back of the 16-runner pack, feeling inexplicably weak. “Next year my goal will be to finish,” said asserted Carlson, who ran last year at state as a member of the 3200-meter relay team. “Now I know what it’s like running in an individual race,” she added. “It will prepare me for my next opportunity.”
Warrenton senior Melanie Raterman placed sixth in the discus throw at the MSHSAA Championships on Saturday.
Derrick Forsythe Photo.
