Kate Foster has a chance to win not just one state championship in Austin this weekend, but two. The Mesquite Poteet sophomore qualified for state in discus and helped her softball team reach the state tournament as well.

"It means a lot," says Foster. "I've been working hard since I was little. I started playing softball when I was four and I've been throwing discus since the 7th grade. I think it's awesome that I achieved this. Most people don't get to."

Foster is actually a four sport athlete and has been balancing her schedule for years, rushing from track and field events, to softball games and vice versa. But this weekend presents an even tighter schedule.

Competition for the state discus competition begins at noon on Friday in Austin at Myers Stadium. Her softball team plays its quarterfinal game at 2 p.m. at McCombs field. The good news is that the two stadiums are separated by only a half mile. The plan is for her to finish her track and field event and join her softball team as quickly as possible. She may miss warm ups, but that has happened before.

"This is probably one of the easier situations we've been in this year as far as the time and distance in between the events," says Aaron Ward, her track and field coach. "Kate's a very mature young lady for age. A lot of times I wonder when she's going to be nervous, when she's going to show pressure. She's been brought up to be able to withstand a lot of adversity."

Apparently she is used to keeping a tight schedule.

"I don't really have a planner," she says. "I listen to my coaches and my dad."

Her mom, Jana Foster, who is a trainer at the high school, will be watching.

"She's real good at focusing on the task at hand, so she'll take care of the throwing, get her over to softball, and see if she can help her team," mother says. "She's very focused."

"She's been busy since August and lucky for her, busy into June," says Joe Huber her softball coach. "We do what's in the best interest of Kate. We make sure she's not overloaded."

Foster says she likes both sports and enjoys throwing the discus since it's a not a popular sport, but there is nothing like being part of a team that has a shot at winning a state championship.

3 Comments

Joyce Wascom, Poteet High School said:

What the article doesn't say is that Kate is a gifted student and a beautiful person. We are all proud of Kate!

June 3, 2009 1:17 PM

Mary M Vaughan said:

Kate is one of those wonderful people who comes through for anybody. She is so talented and she will do Poteet proud!

June 3, 2009 5:14 PM

Will Foster said:

She is a BEAST!!!! end of story!

June 3, 2009 10:00 PM

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