Perkins' Mason places 4th in shot put to cap healthy season

COLUMBUS — Injuries prevented Olivia Mason from making the trip to the state meet as a freshman and sophomore. But as a junior, the Perkins thrower enjoyed a healthy season and earned her spot in Columbus. On Saturday, she made the trip count with a fourth-place finish in the Division II girls shot put. "It was really exciting," Mason said. Mason's best mark was 40 feet, 7.25 inches. She had thrown 40-7 on her second throw and topped it just slightly on her final toss of the day. That's about two feet off Mason's PR (42-7), a byproduct of an unusual throwing ring. "It was a little bittersweet," she said. "I didn't get to do exactly what I wanted to because I couldn't do my full turn, I had to do my half turn. I've never been in a ring more slick than this one. Definitely have to go back and work on more slick surfaces." Mason's 40-7 throw had her sitting in second at the end of the preliminary rounds. "I just tried to chuck it out there, trying to get to finals," Mason said. Mason eventually dropped down to fourth. The event was won by Salem's Makenna Rudy at 41-7.75, an upset over Norton's Morgan Hallett, who finished as the runner-up. Despite a bit of disappointment on the final day of the season, Mason's season was a success. She broke her PR on multiple occasions as she avoided the injury bug. As a freshman, Mason had to get a bone graft in a finger on her throwing hand after it "snapped" at the indoor state meet, she said. Mason then battled knuckle issues on that same right hand as a sophomore. But this season was much better, as Mason got to show her true abilities. In addition to a third-place regional finish in the shot, she was seventh in discus in Lexington last week and could book a trip in both events to state as a senior. "(The injuries) are in the past," she said. "We're trying to move forward with it." Given all of that, a fourth-place finish in the state in her first trip to the throwing pit outside Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium provides Mason a good place to start as she aims for bigger things. "Not bad, not bad," Mason said. "I'm hoping to be a little higher up next year. I still have indoor, and I'm really excited for next year." As she readies for her future goals, Mason will already know what it's like to climb the podium at state. She showed how good she can be when she's healthy. "It felt so much better this year," she said. "The mentality was a lot better not worrying about getting hurt. It was a lot more smooth sailing. It was so much more enjoyable."