Liberty sophomore Blake smashes records, wins top track honor
June 6, 2012 - 1:04 am
Liberty High School shot put and discus standout Ashlie Blake left no doubt about her place among the nation's elite this season.
It's not a bad place to be for someone halfway through her high school career.
Blake, who recently completed her sophomore season, set a state shot put record with a throw of 50 feet, 6 inches at the state meet May 18 in Reno and won the state discus title at 152-3.
For her efforts, Blake has been named the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Class 4A Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
"That was the best thing ever when I finally threw 50 at the end of the season. I was hoping for that all year," she said.
Blake had been close to 50 feet all season in the shot put, including a mark of 49-10½ to win the prestigious Arcadia (Calif.) Invitational in April. One person who wasn't surprised to see Blake make history at the state meet was Liberty throws coach Tim Cagle.
"We knew she could throw 50. She throws 51, 52 at practice all the time," Cagle said. "It's just a matter of putting it on paper in a meet. We're definitely going to attempt to break the 55 mark next year. She's putting on 3, 4, 5 feet every year."
Blake's state record of 50-6 in the shot put is the No. 2 outdoor mark in the nation this season, according to ESPNHS.
Blake's state-winning throw of 152-3 in the discus was a Damonte Ranch High stadium record.
Blake, who transferred from Palo Verde to Liberty for her sophomore year, is receiving recruiting interest from most Pac-12 Conference schools and UNLV. She has designs on competing in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
"Her senior year is going to be phenomenal," Cagle said. "We're going to be breaking marks that no one's going to come close to."
Contact reporter Tristan Aird at taird@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him on Twitter: @tristanaird.
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Review-Journal Spring Athletes of Year
BASEBALL
• 4A: Joey Gallo, Bishop Gorman. A senior third baseman, Gallo hit .509 with 21 home runs and 80 RBIs to lead the Gaels to their seventh straight state title. Signed with Louisiana State. Drafted 39th overall by Texas Rangers.
• 3A/2A/1A: Kade Wadsworth, Pahranagat Valley. A senior right-hander, Wadsworth led the Panthers to their third straight 1A state title.
SOFTBALL
• 4A: Heather Bowen, Centennial. A sophomore shortstop, Bowen hit .480 with a school-record 16 homers and 54 RBIs to lead the Bulldogs to the state title. Committed to Utah.
• 3A/2A/1A: Karlee Koopman, Boulder City. A senior pitcher, Koopman went 22-5 with a 1.19 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 158 2/3 innings and hit .562 with seven homers and a program-record 70 RBIs to lead the Eagles to the 3A Southern League title. Signed with Augustana College (S.D.).
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Tanner Maxwell, Shadow Ridge. A senior outside hitter, Maxwell had 307 kills, 157 digs, 37 aces and 32 blocks to help the Mustangs to their first Sunset Region title. Signed with Grand Canyon.
BOYS SWIMMING AND DIVING
Jacob Luna, Coronado. A senior, Luna captured the 200-yard individual medley state title in 1 minute, 50.63 seconds and the 100 butterfly in a state-record 48.72. Committed to Harvard.
GIRLS SWIMMING AND DIVING
Olivia Barker, Bishop Gorman. A junior, Barker led the Gaels to their third straight state championship by accounting for titles in four events. Barker helped the 200 medley relay to a state record of 1:47.02 and the 200 freestyle relay to a state record of 1:36.98. Barker also won the 100 butterfly in a state-record 54.66 and captured the 100 backstroke in 56.55.
BOYS GOLF
• 4A: A.J. McInerney, Coronado. A senior, McInerney carded a two-day, 9-under-par 133 to win the individual title and lead the Cougars to their third straight Class 4A state championship. McInerney set course and state records with a 9-under 62 at TPC Las Vegas on the first day of the state meet. Signed with UNLV.
• 3A/2A: Ryan Baeza, Virgin Valley. A senior, Baeza shot 1-under 143 to capture the individual title at the 3A state meet, winning by 11 strokes.
BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
• 4A: Nick Hartle, Centennial. A senior, Hartle produced a rare sweep of four events to lead the Bulldogs to their first state title. Hartle won the 400-meter run in 47.79, the 800 in 1:52.53, the 1,600 in 4:18.03, and the 3,200 in 9:28.27. Signed with UCLA.
• 3A/2A/1A: Joseph Henry, Spring Mountain. A junior, Henry won 1A state titles in the shot put at 44 feet, 9¼ inches and the 400 relay in 46.41.
GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD
• 4A: Ashlie Blake, Liberty
• 3A/2A/1A: Lauren Henry, The Meadows. A senior, Henry won 2A state titles in the 100 in 12.1, the 200 in 25.91 and the 400 relay in 52.71 to lead the Mustangs to the team title.