Staff photo / Brian Yauger Austintown Fitch junior Jamell James throws during the shot put event at the OHSAA Division I state track and field meet Saturday in Columbus.

COLUMBUS — Austintown Fitch junior Jamell James has had a roller coaster 14 months.

Flashback to April of 2021, where the then-sophomore tore his ACL at a football prospects camp. There would be no more track for him that season and football season was out the door as well.

All that recovery was building him back to this point. He got back to throwing in the winter for indoor track and getting ready for the spring.

This past weekend, James represented the Falcons in two events in the OHSAA Division I State Track and Field Meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus. James threw in both the discus and shot put events.

The junior placed third and was recognized as an All-Ohio athlete for his shot put performance.

James saved his best throw for last in the shot put, hurling the shot 58 feet and a quarter-inch on his final throw of the afternoon. That mark also just so happened to be a personal best for him, marking a strong end to his season in the shot put ring.

“Man, it feels great,” James said. “In the beginning of the year, I was in a slump, (throwing) around 50 feet, 48 feet. Came out, qualified for here with, I think, 54 feet. Then to come here and PR is great. It’s amazing.”

The throw before his last, James had what could have been his best, but he fouled, which only motivated him more on the final throw.

“I had a 58, it looked like it might have been 59, but I fouled it and that was kind of heartbreaking,” he said. “But I came out and did it again and got the 58.”

James won’t be resting easy over the summer either. Football is just around the corner and the Falcons running back has garnered interest from a handful of schools.

When asked if he’d be taking it easy over the summer, James said that’s not an option, but making sure to stay healthy is a priority. Especially given the fact that he’s lining up in the backfield for the Falcons.

“I can’t necessarily take the summer easy because I’ve got football,” James said. “Football camps, summer practices, all that type of stuff, but I’ll definitely be more relaxed.”

In addition to being excited to be back on the gridiron this upcoming season, James is hoping to make more history for the Falcons in the ring and is aiming to set the school record.

The shot put record is set by a name most are going to remember. Former Ohio State and Cincinnati Bengals lineman Billy Price set the mark of 62 feet, 5.5 inches back in 2012.

To add another four-and-a-half feet to his throws, expect James to make time for some extra work in the summer. He might be more relaxed, but it’s definitely not going to be a leisurely summer vacation.

“I’ve got to get into the weight room for sure,” he said. “Get my technique down. My technique is okay right now, definitely could be better. Hopefully build my explosion and that kind of stuff.”

James also went on to compete later in the day in the discus, placing 11th with a throw of 147 feet, 7 inches. Fellow Falcon DJ Williams placed ninth, with a throw of 149 feet, 5 inches. The pair making the state meet was the first time in 30 years that Fitch sent two throwers to state in the same event.

The winner of this year’s shot put event was senior Aamil Wagner of Wayne Huber Heights High School, who threw an astounding 64 feet, 1 inch. Senior Kevin Hornbeak of Toledo Whitmer placed second, beating James by seven inches.

Over the weekend, three other Falcons competed in Columbus. Harrison Spalding competed in the pole vault, placing 15th and clearing a height of 13 feet, and Savannah Jones and De’Aunee Thompson reached the semifinal stage of the 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles, respectively.