Published: June 05, 2009 09:00 pm      

‘We couldn’t be more proud’

Ennis uses best throw of year to place fourth in the discus at state meet

AUSTIN — Huntsville senior Kirby Ennis didn’t make it to the medal stand Friday, but he got close.

The Hornets’ three-sport star closed his high school career with a fourth-place finish in the Class 4A boys discus at the UIL State Track and Field Championships on a steamy afternoon at Mike A. Myers Stadium.

“That was the best I’ve ever thrown in a meet,” Ennis said after unleashing a toss of 163 feet, 5 inches on his next-to-last attempt. “I wanted to be on the third-place stand, but everything happens for a reason.

“This has been my goal since the eighth grade. Me and coach (David) Cooper told coach (Mitchell) Coey that we would be at state competing for a state championship. I did that and came a few feet from third place. I thank God for giving me this opportunity.”

Ennis brought the sixth-best qualifying mark to the state meet, a throw of 154-4 recorded at the Region III meet in Huntsville a little more than two weeks ago. He outdid that mark by nearly 10 feet, plus he defeated Region III champion Ben Skrla of Angleton, who finished sixth with a throw of 152-4.

Preston Sanders of Red Oak won the gold medal, landing a toss of 184 feet, 5 inches. James Chambers of Wichita Falls Rider (183-3) finished second and Canyon Randall’s Casey Felton took third with a throw of 171-11.

After two subpar throws (130-8 and 138-7) Friday, Ennis went to work.

He quickly whirled and delivered a toss of 161 feet even on his third attempt.

Ennis bettered that with his first throw in the finals. He landed a throw of 161-4, then he improved on that with his fifth attempt. Trying to overtake Felton for third, Ennis stepped over the line and fouled on his final throw.

“The first couple of throws, I was thinking a little too much,” Ennis explained. “I was also holding the disc a little different. I tried to sling it hard, but that messed me up. I went back to my old way and things got better.”

Surprisingly, Ennis said he was cool inside while competing on the state’s biggest track and field stage.

“At district and region I was really, really nervous,” admitted Ennis, who graduates with his classmates tonight, then turns his attention to Texas A&M football. He is headed to Aggieland later this summer on a full football scholarship.

“Today I was not nervous. I was just focusing on enjoying myself and blocking all the people out. I tried to make it like it was just me and coach Cooper at practice. I was really calm the whole time.”

Competing early in the afternoon, the stands were maybe a quarter full and there were no running events going on simultaneously. Next door to the discus ring, the Class 4A high jump competition was being held, and across the track, there were girls and boys high jumpers doing their thing.

Ennis did his thing and recorded his best-ever throw. He also experienced the thrill of competing at the state track meet, one of the country’s top high school track and field championships.

“We couldn’t be more proud,” Huntsville head track coach Jason Elliott said. “It’s a big deal coming down here and throwing against these guys. This is the best stage you can possibly compete on and Kirby comes over here and throws his personal best three times.

“He went 160, then 161, then 163-5. Up until today, his personal best was about 158 feet.

“That kid is such a competitor. Sitting here watching him — the way he walks and the way he carries himself — you know he’s here to compete. He means business.”

Ennis said his goal was simple. He wanted to win a medal — gold, preferably. But he knew he was going against three throwers — Chambers (188-2), Felton (177-7) and Texarkana Texas’ Garry Williams (175-2) — who qualified for state with throws of 175 feet-plus.

“Everything worked out,” Ennis said. “My distance just wasn’t quite there today.”