Peak Performer: Jaden Terry, Doherty track and field

GETTING TO KNOW: JADEN TERRY, Doherty track and field

Time was running out on Jaden Terry. Twice before, the Doherty discus thrower had fallen short at the Class 5A state meet, finishing third and eighth. But on May 20 at Jeffco Stadium, Terry put it all together, just in time. His throw of 177 feet, 1 inch took top honors, besting Fountain-Fort Carson’s Jamarius Mathis by just 6 inches.

Nice way to go out.

“My first good throw was 166 feet, but right after that, J.J. (Mathis) threw 176, so the pressure was pretty intense,” Terry said. “My next throw was my best, and that’s what did it. It was an awesome feeling.”

Terry, also a linebacker at Doherty, earlier this spring signed a letter of intent to play football (and perhaps track later) at Western State College in Gunnison.

QUICK HITS

Is it true that you have a hidden talent?

I’ve played the guitar on and off the past three years or so. In my off time, I spend my time looking up tabs trying to play stuff. 

What kind of music would you play to impress your girlfriend?

She likes country as much as I do, so probably a slower country song.

What persuaded you to sign with Western State?

I definitely wanted to stay close to my family, but Western is one of about five schools in the nation to offer a degree in petroleum geology.

So what exactly will you do with a degree in petroleum geology?

A lot of it is figuring out where to drill, and there are quite a few sites in Wyoming and some here in Colorado, so I hope to stay in the area after I’m done.

What was your most embarrassing moment this year?

Alexis Cooks (also a Doherty athlete who won the state title in the shot put) had thrown at a meet in the middle of the season. I was throwing her discus back in the field, but she wasn’t looking and it hit her in the leg. No one got hurt, so it was pretty funny.

What other sports have you played?

I’ve been in sports my whole life. I threw the shot put in elementary and middle school, played basketball until I was a freshman and wrestled during my sophomore year. After that, I kept going with track and football. 

MULTIPLE CHOICE

Favorite food that resembles a discus

Doughnut ( )     Bagel ( )     Pancake  ( )    Pizza (x)  

Best linebacker ever

Lawrence Taylor (x)   Dick Butkus ( )  Derrick Thomas ( )   Ray Nitschke ( )

County artist Terry hopes to see at Country Jam

Miranda Lambert ( )    Alan Jackson ( )    Billy Currington (x)    Keith Urban ( )

Graduation prank idea

Start “The Wave” ( )    Beach ball (x)    Message on cap ( )      Prank buzzer ( )