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BLITZ Track & Field Athlete of the Year: Shelby Speed

May 31, 2023

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Talk about making the most of your final high school competition. Shelby Speed straight up demolished her own records and won a pair of state titles. Enough said, as Speed is the BLITZ Track & Field Athlete of the Year!

*Feature Photo by Banks County T&F*

POY Framed Print (11×14) – Shelby Speed

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BUY FRAMED PRINT – SHELBY SPEED

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

2A Discus State & Area Champion
153-1 PR in Discus (at State)
2A Shot Put State & Area Champion
43-7 PR in Shot Put (at State)
10 1st-place finishes in Shot Put
9 1st-place finishes in Discus
2nd in Discus at Wingfoot Night of Champions
3rd in Shot Put at Wingfoot Night of Champions

Shelby Speed had a remarkable performance at the GHSA State Championships. The senior thrower earned the state title in the discus and shot put. In discus, her throw was 153-01, while she had a 43-07 in shot put. The discus throw was a PR for her, as was her shot put distance. For her career, she finished Region RU in shot put in 2021 and 11th at state, while being the Region Champ in discus and winning the State Championship as well. In 2022, she was the Region Champ in shot put and 11th again at state, while being the Region Champion and State Runner-Up in discus. This year in 2023, Speed was the Region Champion and State Champion in both shot put and discus. That brings her medal count to 5 region titles and 3 state titles and one runner-up. Speed was invited – and excelled – at the Wingfoot Night of Champions, placing 2nd in discus and 3rd in shot put. She has signed to continue her career at Kennesaw State University.

VOTING RESULTS

Shelby Speed – 67.5 pts (11 1st-place votes)
Rusty Dye – 50 pts (2)
Audrey Hotard – 22.25 pts (1)
Paden Bell – 19.5 pts (1)
Julianne Shirley – 18.75 pts
Anna LeCave – 10 pts
Camden Thomason – 8 pts

Voting included our 16-person panel made up of sports reporters, writers, video producers, former coaches, players, GHSA officials, and sports experts. The voting is Heisman-style, with the following points system:
1st place votes: 5 pts; 2nd: 3 pts; 3rd: 2 pts; 4th: 1 pts; 5th-6th: 0.5 pts; 7th-8th 0.25 pts

Shelby Speed took this one with relative ease, securing 11 1st-place votes. Rusty Dye (White County) got a couple 1st-place votes, while both Audrey Hotard (Habersham) and Paden Bell (Commerce) got one apiece.