James Thorpe started throwing the shot put for Newburgh Free Academy in eighth grade, and the sophomore was second during the Section 9, Class A championships earlier in February at West Point.

“Pretty good. I learned a lot,” said Thorpe, of his progress in the shot during the last three years. “I got a lot stronger and better.”

Thorpe was getting ready for the state qualifying meet, and he finished 4th with a throw of 45-feet and three quarters of an inch, a personal record - but nearly 6-feet shy of the winning throw by Valley Centrals’ Mason Davis.

Thorpe’s throw at the state qualifying meet Friday was nearly identical to his throw in the sectional championships when the shot landed at an even 45-feet, his best throw of the indoor season up until that point.

When the indoor season ends, Thorpe will get right to work readying for the outdoor season when he throws the shot put and the discus. Thorpe’s best throw outdoors for the shot put is around is 33-feet, 11 inches. And his best throw outdoors for the discus is 117-feet and an inch.

“It’s fun. It’s something to do,” said Thorpe, of throwing the shot.
Newburgh’s track teams, both boys and girls, have produced plenty of sprinters and fast relay teams, indoors and outdoors. And the Goldbacks’ boy’s 1,600-meter relay team has found itself, at times, the fastest in the nation.

And with the legacy, there’s plenty of pride, and Thorpe enjoys being around that and the striving for excellence in the program.