WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Track & field signee Molly Leppelmeier is having a stellar senior season in the throws. The high school senior from McComb, Ohio, had a nation-leading discus mark in the discus and broke the state’s Division III shot put record, all in the last week.
At the Upper Scioto Valley Invitational on April 27, Leppelmeier took down the Division III shot put state record, which was held by her sister, Jackie, with a throw of 49 feet, 6.75 inches. At that same meet, she threw the then-national leading discus mark with a toss of 171 feet, 5 inches. That mark now ranks No. 2 nationally among high school girls.
“This year, my technique has become a lot more consistent and I’ve developed a lot more body awareness,” Leppelmeier said. “It’s helped with tweaking form and getting into the positions I want. My goal in the shot put is to hit the all-divisions state record (which is 51 feet, 2 inches). In discus, I would like to hit the all-divisions state record (which is 183 feet, 3 inches). I know both of these marks are really big, but I’d really like to see myself keep pushing my mark out there until I get them.”
Leppelmeier’s discus throw is more than 10 feet better than the qualifying standard for the U.S. Junior Championships. Her shot put mark is more than two feet beyond the shot put qualifying standard for the same meet. That meet will take place at the end of July.
Leppelmeier started her senior year by running away with the state’s indoor shot put title. She threw 48 feet, 7.5 inches, which was nearly five and a half feet better than any other competitor. At that same meet, she finished runner-up in the 25-pound weight throw with a distance of 56 feet, 7 inches. For the indoor season, Leppelmeier was named the 2017 Ohio Female Indoor Athlete of the Year after posting the No. 5 shot put mark nationally and No. 8 in the weight throw. She went on to New Balance Nationals and finished third in the shot put.
Leppelmeier will look to add to Purdue’s long-standing tradition of throwing excellence beginning in the 2017-18 season. She signed her letter of intent to attend Purdue last November.