Brinker overcomes midseason shoulder injury to place at State

Senior Myah Brinker threw in this year’s State track meet, but things were different this year. Brinker went into the meet having not thrown in weeks due to a difficult injury after tearing her labrum in her shoulder. Although according to Brinker it did not “feel like State” this year, she said she experienced a tremendous amount of support from her teammates, coaches, doctors and physical therapists. 

Brinker obtained her injury at practice trying a new shot put technique. Having not quite gotten the hang of the new technique, she was throwing the shot wrong, resulting in too much pressure on her shoulder. One throw she described as particularly bad ended up being the throw to tear her labrum. 

However, Brinker qualified for State at the district meet this year, throwing 111-6 in discus.

“I was way more relaxed than ever because there was no expectations put onto me,” Brinker said. “I had expectations of myself to a point, but no coaches or anyone expected anything from me.”

Brinker finished eighth at State in discus throwing with her injury. Although it is her lowest state finish of her career, she said, “I was just as excited to place eighth this year as I was to win last year because placing felt unreachable where a state championship was something that was almost expected of me. I credit all of the hard situations I’ve been in before in order to best prepare me for this state meet,” Brinker said. 

Brinker’s farthest throw at State was 114, her first throw of the day. The throws kept declining the more she threw due to her injury. 

Brinker will continue her throwing journey as a commit to Upper Iowa University.