WS Chronicle

Desiree Warner of Northwest Middle School won the shot put in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County track and field championship meet recently. What makes her feat even more impressive is that this is the first year the eighth-grader has ever picked up a shot put.

Forsyth County brought back the shot put for middle school track meets less than 10 years ago. Since it’s return, the girls of Northwest Middle have dominated the event, capturing the title of shot put champion every year.

Warner, the multi-sport athlete who is an outstanding softball player, says she enjoys running track and was surprised when head coach Quinton Campbell came to her with the proposal of trying the shot put.

“For her size, she is very athletic and is very agile but I knew how strong she was and she was just perfect for the event,” Campbell said. “She is just a natural athlete and her progression throughout the season has been great.”

“She is one of those athletes that when you tell her what you want her to do, I can go work with other athletes and she will do exactly what she is supposed to be doing,” he continued. “I expect her to continue and grow and get better on the next level.”

At the city/county meet, Warner says she was somewhat nervous coming into the meet. Campbell gave her a pep talk prior to the event and that motivation helped propel her to victory.

“When I got to the meet, there were a lot of girls and I knew it was going to be good competition,” Warner stated. “I just had to trust in myself and I actually won with my first throw which was over 35 feet.”

“Once I threw it, I was excited and relieved because I was so nervous and tense. I knew I had a chance to win but I knew I really had to work hard and I told myself ‘I got this.”

Warner stated she was surprised by her progression throughout the year. She said she knew she would be good at the event by her performance her first time out but to win the city/county meet was icing on the cake.

Laverne Brown, Northwest Middle School athletic director, said Warner is a phenomenal student off the field. She says Warner will be missed once the year is over.

“Desiree is an awesome individual,” said Brown. “She has been here for three years and has done everything that has been asked of her. She is just a great student and a great young lady.”

“I am going to miss her because she is one of the better students we have ever had here at Northwest Middle school,” Brown went on to say. “I know she will be successful and I know she will continue to grow and I know she will continue to do well.”

Warner plans to continue playing multiple sports when she transitions to the high school level. She says her first love has and always will be softball but with her quick success in the shot put who knows how far this young lady can go.