Prep athletes of the week: North St. Paul discus thrower spins record toss

These days, there's just one thing on the mind of the North St. Paul senior: Throwing the discus.

With good reason. Kubiatowicz launched a personal best throw of 199 feet, 7 inches to win the event at the Class 2A, Section 4 meet last week. It was second-best discus throw in state history and just two feet shy of the state record of 201-7.

"I've been training with the state record in mind all season," he said. "There was just a slight breeze and it all came together. When it landed, I started screaming. I knew it was a big throw. I think I screamed three times."

He has one last chance to break the record before he heads off to throw for the University of Pennsylvania: The Minnesota State High School League state meet, which runs Friday and Saturday. With his high school course work complete, his thoughts are dominated by throwing.

"When I'm laying in bed and can't sleep, I'm doing practice spins in my mind. I'm thinking about throwing 24-7," he said. "It's all I can think about."

The senior earned an opportunity to add to her state championship totals – she won gold and silver as a sophomore – with three first-place finishes in the Class 2A, Section 6 meet. She won 100 hurdles (14.80), the long jump (17-8¼) and triple jump (38-7½).

The junior infielder helped the Robins to the physically impaired division state championship. He made big contributions at the plate, with three hits each in the quarterfinal and championship games, and in the field, where he recorded six consecutive outs in the semifinals.

After winning the 3,200 meter run at the Metro West Conference meet on May 18, the senior repeated the feat with a victory at the Class 2A, Section 3 meet. She followed that with a victory in the 1,600, qualifying for the state meet for the first time.

The Royals are back in the Class 4A state tournament, with much of the credit to Merritt's pitching performance. She gave up just five hits, had 10 strikeouts and drove in two runs with a first-inning single in a 5-1 victory over Edina in the Section 6 final.

The senior pitcher won a pair of games in the Class 4A, Section 4 playoffs, putting the Royals on the path to a second consecutive state tournament berth. He struck out 11 in a 4-0 three-hitter over Tartan and gave up two hits and no runs in 5⅔ innings in a 4-1 victory over Stillwater.

JIM PAULSEN