Eastern Randolph’s Mirianna Corea says she’s continuing to improve as she aims for another state championship in track and field. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record)
RAMSEUR — Winning a state championship in track and field was a good thing for Eastern Randolph’s Mirianna Corea last year.
Now it’s getting even better.
Corea has exceeded past marks in the discus and shot put with new personal bests as the final month of the season approaches.
“It has been going good. I’ve hit some good PRs in both shot put and discus,” Corea said earlier this spring. “Last year’s PR was 118 (feet) in the discus and now it’s a 126. The shot put used to be 34, now it’s 39.”
She won the Class 1A discus championship last May as a sophomore.
Corea said she has been motivated to show regular improvement.
“Keep going,” she said. “The goals that I’ve had, I’ve hit them pretty early. Hopefully, more PRs to come.”
The discus is her favorite among the two throwing events in high school.
“It’s more fun for me,” Corea said. “Shot put is fun, too, but discus just excites me more. Discus is a lot more free and technique. You can have all the strength in the world, but technique means a lot.”
Corea wasn’t the favorite in last year’s state meet. Past state champion Brittany Ellis of North Rowan was in the mix. Ellis is now a freshman on Appalachian State’s team.
“I’m still in shock about it,” Corea said of the outcome that day in the state meet at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro.
Her second attempt struck the netting before she unleashed what became at the time her personal-best heave of 118 feet, 8 inches.
“It’s all about who’s on that day,” Corea said. “Who can throw their best that day because really anybody can be beat. My biggest battle is myself. I’m my biggest enemy.”
She came up through Franklinville Elementary School all the way to becoming a state champion. Corea, 16, also plays volleyball as an Eastern Randolph middle hitter.
She said she wants to compete in track and field in college. While the recruiting could become intense, Corea said she’s focused on improvement in advance of another state meet.
