Jeff Chaney
Sports Scene
ADA, MI – For the second straight year, Riley Norman proved to be the best shot putter in the state of Michigan at the Division 2 level.
The Cadillac senior won his second straight state title in the event with a put of 59 feet, 10 inches at the MHSAA Division 2 finals at Forest Hills Eastern High School near Grand Rapids on June 1.
Last year, Norman won the title with an impressive toss of 61’2.5″ at Houseman Field in Grand Rapids.
Even though his put in this year’s final was a couple of feet shorter, he was still pleased with his day, a day that included a fifth-place performance in the discus with a toss of 158’5″.
“I’m satisfied with my throw [in the shot put,]” Norman said. “My best was 62’10”, and I was looking to throw that or go 63 feet today, but I’m satisfied with the throw.”
Norman still won this year’s title by almost three feet. Fowlerville’s Adam Coon was runner-up with a put of 57 feet, ½ inch, but Norman admitted that he did need to reach down to beat Coon and the rest of the shot putters that day.
“It is nice to get pushed,” Norman said. “At a lot of meets, I’m always going up against my own PR. At this meet, you always get pushed.”
Standing 6 feet, 7 inches tall and weighing nearly 320 pounds, Norman was one of the top 10 football recruits in the state and the 25th-ranked offensive tackle in the nation.
He was recruited by many schools in the state, including Michigan State University. But Norman threw a curve to all of those football recruiters and decided he would concentrate on track at MSU.
“I love track and the shot put, and it is a little safer,” Norman said. “Hopefully I can go to MSU and improve.”