Oxford Sophomore Places Third at Nationals

sophomore Taylor Drayton finished third in the country on Saturday in the shot put competition at the New Balance High School Nationals at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, N.C.

Drayton, who competed against 19 other competitors from all over the country, beat her own school record with a throw of 38 feet, 3.25 inches on her last throw of the day and season on Saturday.

Drayton also finished 14th out of 24 in the discus with a throw of 108 feet, five inches. She was the fourth best sophomore in the discus.

She also finished 18th of 22 competitors in the javelin with a throw of 96 feet, two inches, and was the fifth best sophomore in that competition.

Drayton is the first Oxford athlete to compete at nationals.

“Knowing Taylor, this will be a great learning experience and she will build on it for next year,” said Oxford Coach Ed Lucas. “Just last year she went into the Connecticut state class championships nervous as any freshman would be and did not have a great day. This year she wins the discus and is runner-up in the shot put. She is already the most decorated track athlete in OHS short history.”

The Oxford girls track season is now complete. This season, the girls set 33 school records and 53 class records.  In comparison to last year, only 44 class records and 35 school records were set. With only three seniors (Corrinn Niksi, Caylee Richardson, and Sara Thorpe) the future looks bright for the Lady Wolverines, Lucas said.