Hackbart wins Eastern Iowa T&F Festival shot put

By Kristi Nixon

IOWA CITY — Ryan Hackbart was aiming for the Drake Relays.

He may have accomplished that with his first shot put attempt in the finals during the Eastern Iowa Track & Field Festival at Iowa City West High School on Saturday, April 15.

Hackbart put out an effort of 52 feet, 8 inches, which placed him in the top-24 (tied for 16th) in the state to that point for throwers in the event, even though it is a little short of the Blue Oval standard of 54-0. He had made an attempt of 51-4 in the second flight to qualify with the second-best effort for the final.

“Came down here last year, and I remember seeing guys throwing 60-foot shots,” Hackbart said. “And a guy last year threw a 202 in disc – that was fun to watch. It’s always fun to come down here, because it’s different competition. It’s always good.

“Today felt good, I was feeling good, my form was down. Towards the end there, I was feeling really good.“

Dubuque Senior’s Cohen Pfohl, who had the best throw going into the finals, made a last attempt that would have been close, but he fell over and scratched.

Hackbart said there was a little nerves going into it.

“Just a little,” he admitted. “I always tend to get nervous throwing, in any sport, but I think that definitely helps. The adrenaline kicks in.”

The full story, and more photos, are available in the April 19 print and e-edition of the Enterprise Journal