Toll Gate senior Courtney Jacobsen is the best hammer thrower in the state, but she didn’t even start high school in that sport.

According to Titans track head coach Norm Bouthillier, she started as a sprinter until he thought she may do well in the hammer event.

“She was one of 10 kids, and she stood out because she’s taller,” Bouthillier said. “Very aggressive, smart, quick feet, so I thought ‘She’ll make a great thrower.’ She had all the elements of a great thrower.”

The change worked, and Jacobsen evolved into one of the top track athletes in Rhode Island. She will attend Michigan in the fall after signing her National Letter of Intent earlier this year.

The weight and hammer thrower is just one of three athletes in R.I. history to throw at least 180 feet, and she did it multiple times. At the Outdoor Track State Championship, her distance of 180 feet, one inch won her the hammer title by nearly seven feet.

Then, she one-upped herself at the New England Hammer Throw Championship. She launched her hammer 184 feet, five inches, which beat out Ponaganset’s Gianna Rao for first place by just less than 13 feet.

“She became a natural at it,” Bouthillier said. “She worked her butt off. She lifts the entire offseason, snow, rain, wind, she’s out there throwing.”

Jacobsen didn’t just bring talent to the circle, either. She excelled in the classroom, too, finishing in the top 15 of her class.

“Part of the package that Michigan gave her is because her academics were so outstanding,” Bouthillier said. “She hasn’t taken a day off yet.”

It will be tough to replace Jacobsen’s presence on the team, as she delivered on and off the track. 

“I think this year she became a better leader because she was more at ease with herself,” Bouthillier said. “She knew she would do well. She wasn’t as stressed out as she was last year. That enabled her to help the other kids out a lot. She leads by example, [with] her dedication to training and improving.”

-J.M.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Norm Bouthillier, TG

ALL CITY TEAM

Danika Wayss, Pilgrim

Madison Stanley, Pilgrim

Nicole Morales, Pilgrim

Heather Allstrom, TG

Casey Gannon, TG

Ani Armenakyan, TG

Emma Landroche, Pilgrim

Ashley Chin, TG

Paige Carmichael, TG

Chelsea Yang, Pilgrim

Ilana Perdereaux, Pilgrim

Kayda Phillip, Pilgrim

Alyssa Mathews, TG