Photos by Stephenville ISD coach Nolan Vosburg
Observers talk about how Kolton Dearth’s maturity, strength and experience all came together this year in helping the senior break the Stephenville school record in the shot put with a throw of 62 feet, 10.75 inches.
The 6-foot-2, 305-pound Dearth broke the 60-foot barrier and set the school record at the area track and field meet on April 17 in Abilene. Two weeks later, he won his second consecutive Region I-4A shot put title and qualified for this week’s state meet with a mark of 59-8.
Dearth’s 59-8 was the farthest regional throw and made him the favorite for the UIL Class 4A State Track and Field Meet at Mike A. Myers Track and Soccer Stadium in Austin. The 4A boys’ shot put is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
“He’s learned how to contain his adrenalin and emotions,” Stephenville throwing coach Nolan Vosburg said of Dearth. “When he was younger, he wanted it so bad that it sometimes took away from what he was trying to accomplish.
“Being part of a state championship football team helped things slow down for him in other sports. He’s not as hard on himself now as he was as a freshman and sophomore.”
While maturity, strength and experience came together for Dearth this year, he’s always had a sense of discipline and staying the course. James Dearth, Kolton’s dad and the throwing coach at Tarleton State, coached his son to use the spin or rotating motion through the ring as he threw as a junior high athlete.