After taking over first place in the javelin at the Class 3 state track meet on May 18, Weston Marshall was looking to become the first Montgomery County athlete in 23 years to win a state title in the boys division.

Then, Skyler Still of Kelly High School spoiled the party.

Marshall finished second to Still by seven inches for the javelin state title. He threw a personal-best and school-record throw 181 feet, 8 inches at the state event at Jefferson City High School’s Adkins Stadium. Still, a junior, threw a 182-3 to win his first state championship.

Marshall threw a 181-8 in his sixth and final attempt to take over first place. Three athletes later, Still tossed 182-3 in his last attempt to surpass Marshall. He was in fourth going into the final throw. During the awards ceremony, Marshall watched Still perform a celebratory backflip.

“I was like, ‘Wow.’ I didn’t expect it,” Marshall said. “But good for him. He got it.”

Despite coming up short of a state title, Marshall walked out of Jefferson City with his first all-state track medal. Two years ago, he came up one place short of a medal in the javelin, placing ninth. Marshall made his second trip to the state meet.

Marshall came into the state meet as the top seed in the javelin. He clinched a berth to the finals by throwing 160 feet in his third attempt, moving him from ninth to fifth. Marshall climbed up to fourth after throwing a 163-2 in his fourth attempt, then third after tossing a 171-8 in his fifth attempt.

Marshall broke 180 feet for the first time in his high school track career. He surpassed his previous-best throw of 178-9 in his first-place finish at the Class 3, Sectional 3 championship meet on May 11 at Paris.

“I was doing horrible at the start,” Marshall said. “My coach (Joe Klekamp) told me to keep my hand up and keep my chest wide and let it go and have fun. I was too nervous before my first few throws, then I started calming down. In my last one, I just let it rip. It was my last throw of high school.”

Marshall enjoyed an outstanding senior season that included eight victories in the javelin. He began the year on March 19 with a win with a throw of 174-6 at the Montgomery County Early Invite.

“I got way better this year than last year, so I cared a little more this year,” Marshall said. “I realized that I was decent in the sport, so I figured I would do some work and get better.”

Marshall finished his high school track career with 16 wins in the javelin. When he was a sophomore, he picked up his first victory at the sectional meet, which was held at Jim Blacklock Field.

Marshall credits assistant coach Joe Klekamp for his success in the javelin. At the awards podium, he wore pajama pants that had cut out faces of Klekamp.

“He and I worked together all of the time,” said Marshall, who plans to compete in the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Ore., in June. “I would come out sometimes at nighttime during the school year and he would help me out.”