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Viking wins shot put title

CORAL SPRINGS -- Russ Tyson has made a habit of avoiding defeat with last-minute panache.

The defending state champion in the shot put, the Northeast senior was in second place and in danger of losing his title. He had one throw left and needed to beat 57 feet, 61/2 inches, the mark held by Punta Gorda Charlotte's Westley Stockbarger.

After heaving the metal ball, Tyson watched it hit the chalk line and knew he had won. Tyson's final throw, 57-11-1/2, was the best of his career. He also won the event last year on his final attempt.

"I always seem to have to wait until the end to win," Tyson said. "I felt I had that kind of throw in me and knew I was going to need it in order to beat (Stockbarger)."

Stockbarger finished third last year but had tossed the shot 2 feet farther than Tyson entering Friday's meet. Tyson prepared by lifting weights at home and running at a nearby park.

"I prepared a lot for this meet," Tyson said. "That's what makes it so much more gratifying to win."

Tyson joined Kevin Marion of Dixie Hollins and Dermillo Wise of Lakewood as the county's only state champions.

Two other boys from Pinellas, Boca Ciega's Roberto Rodriguez and Largo's Chauncey Corbin, came close.

Rodriguez finished third in the high jump with a leap of 6-8, the same height he recorded as a runner-up last season.

"I didn't do well at all," Rodriguez said. "I can go 7-1 when I'm practicing by myself, but for some reason, I just can't do it when I'm competing against others."

Corbin finished second in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles behind Wise.

In the girls field, Largo's Monica Adams was third in the 300 hurdles, Lakewood's Nadia Covington was fifth in the 400 and East Lake's Melissa Moukawsher was sixth in the long jump. The Spartans' 4x400 relay failed to win for the third consecutive year and finished sixth.

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