AUSTIN — Camden Ables knew he had to show out for Hawley as the only athlete from his school at the UIL state track and field meet Friday.
Ables embraced the spotlight and tossed a Class 2A gold medal-winning discus throw that traveled 172 feet and three inches at Mike A. Meyers Stadium.
“At first I was nervous for sure,” Ables said. “But I said a quick little prayer before I threw, and everything turned out as it should.”
The junior admitted he struggled at the beginning of the event, faulting on three of his first four throws. After his first four attempts, he sat in eighth place with his only qualifying throw measuring at 143-8 — far from his Region II winning and school record-breaking throw of 171-9.
On his fifth attempt, Ables said everything finally clicked.
“I can normally feel like how (the throw) is going to be from the start,” Ables said. “If the back of my throw fits well, then everything goes well. I can feel it as soon as I release it — On that one, I kinda just had that feeling in it.”
Even though Ables’ fifth throw secured a safe spot at the top of the podium, he added a 170-2 throw on his final attempt, which also would have still won him the event and been three feet past second place.
Ables is the latest in his family to climb the podium and secure gold at the state track and field championships. His mom, Andrea Ables, won gold at Canyon High School in 1998, while his dad, Mitch Ables, and brother, Keagan Ables, won gold in 2022.
“Man, it feels great to add another medal to the family,” Camden Ables said. “It’s always been on my mind since I got second last year — and I plan on going for it again next year.”
Looking at next year, Camden Ables said he has plans to throw over 200 yards. However, he will have plenty on his plate before he can start training for that milestone.
The 6-foot-5, 235-pound tight end is gaining traction in the college football recruiting world, after two seasons where he has a combined 2,262 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns. He currently holds two NCAA Division I college football offers from Tarleton State and the University of Texas-El Paso, but said he aims to keep his options open going into his senior year.
Camden Ables said he has a lot of resources to look at during his recruiting process, including his brother Keagan Ables, who plays at Hardin-Simmons University. More than anything, though, he credits the work he put into discus.
“It’s pretty common for tight ends to compete in the discus,” Camden Ables said. “I feel like it has definitely helped with my recruiting, seeing how explosive I really am.”
Paul Witwer covers high school sports and Angelo State University sports for The San Angelo Standard-Times. Reach him at sports@gosanangelo.com. Follow him on X @Paul_Witwer, Instagram and TikTok at pwitwer_sast.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Hawley’s Camden Ables wins state discus gold
