Track: McDonald fourth at state

“She was really consistent,” Jefferson coach Chad Cheatham said. “I thought she threw really well.”

McDonald finished behind Northeast’s Whitney Wilson (125-00), Gordon Central’s Haley Reynolds (122-00) and Heard County’s Jasmine Cook (108-03).

McDonald managed a short throw on her first attempt, but hit the 108-02 on the second. She even led briefly before the longer throwers staked their claim atop the leaderboard.

“I knew looking at the seeds that there were some girls who had a shot to get to the 120s,” Cheatham said.

Still, McDonald’s fourth-place finish was a solid way for the senior to end her track career.

“I just wanted her to be able to make the finals and make the podium,” Cheatham said. “She did that and then some.”

McDonald, who finished second in the region in both the discus and shot put, didn’t place in the shot put at state. Jefferson will now be starting over next year with new throwers and must try to find someone to fill McDonald’s shoes in both the discus and shot put.

“She was one of our mainstays, we can’t replace Kasey … You hope you can just try to fill in,” Cheatham said