Fresh off finishing second in the triple jump, Alex Collatz demonstrated her competitive nature to everyone watching her throw the discus Friday at the Kern Invitational meet.

Smiling and laughing on the outside but still upset by the earlier setback, Collatz unleashed three straight throws better than her previous personal best.

Her longest of the trio went 180 feet, nine inches, besting former Shafter standout Anna Jelmini's meet record of 173-8 set last year.

"I was excited with that first throw," Collatz said "I didn't know I had more coming."

Jelmini, on break from Arizona State, was on hand at Liberty High School to watch the girls discus event.

"I would not be the thrower I am today if I hadn't thrown against her (Jelmini) for the past couple of years," Collatz said. "She's obviously the best ever. I'm lucky in the sense that I got to compete against her a lot."

Frontier's Taylor Jackson finished with a mark of 38-21/2 to beat Collatz in the triple jump.

  

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