By Kristine Thomas
The stage was set for a showdown between two of the top female discus throwers in the Tri-River Conference. All spring, the two throwers went back and forth – one winning one week, the other the next.
They shared the same quest – to win first-place at the district meet in the discus and then take first at the state meet. Both ranked in the top three discus throwers for their division in the state.
The catch – high school juniors Danielle Allen and Chelsea Whirledge are teammates for Kennedy High School’s track and field team and have been best friends since preschool.
“We are extremely competitive with each other when we are throwing the discus and we get irritated when one of us does better than the other,” Allen said in an interview before the district meet on May 8, “but after the competition we are still friends and that’s what comes first before track.”
After the district meet, the girls said the results were the perfect scenario – Allen took first place in the discus with Whirledge earning third and Whirledge winning the shot put. Both girls will go to the state meet on May 15. Allen also took first place in the discus her freshman and sophomore years.
“We are just so glad that we are both going to state in something,” Allen said, “and we both got first place in an event.”
Allen credits Whirledge for her competing well this year.
“Chelsea has pushed me in a way to throw farther and she has helped me to do better,” Allen said.
Whirledge said last year she got third in the shot and the discus. Although she’s upset with her third place finish in the discus at the district meet, she’s glad she finished first in the shot put.
“This is the best way for it to happen,” Whirledge said. “We both are going to state in the events we like best.”
Melinda Fahey is the throwing coach at Kennedy High School. She competed at Willamette University.
“Both girls were nervous for their first two throws at the district meet,” Fahey said. “I told them to go hang out with each other and act like it was any other meet. That helped them to relax and by working with each other, they threw better.”
Fahey feels confident both girls could win the state championship in their events. Head Track Coach Steve Ritchie said it’s the first time in 25 years JFK possibly could have two state champions.
“I think it’s good the girls have some one to practice with and to compete against,” Fahey said. “They are very lucky they can be competitive and still have the camaraderie. It’s rare to have two of the top girls in the state in throwing on the same team and be able to work off each other.”
Whirledge and Allen praise Fahey for everything she has taught them this year, adding this is the first year they’ve had a throwing coach.
“We really learned a lot from our new coach and I think it helped having both of us learn together,” Whirledge said.
“It’s been nice to have a coach who helps us everyday and has been helping me get my spin down,” Allen said. “She’s a great coach.”
Competing against each other has taught both girls some important life lessons, they said.
“Some days, Chelsea was better than me and I have learned to be supportive,” Allen said. “I’ve learned to accept I was having an off-day. Competing against Chelsea has taught me not to worry so much, focus on what I am doing and to have fun.”
Mostly, both girls added, it’s been a lot of fun to compete with a friend at your side.
