Tyler Washington has been a little bit of a puzzle for Cedar Hill boys track and field coach Sandra Mitchell.

As a sophomore last year, Washington's best event was the discus. At the 2007 Class 5A state meet, Washington was the leader going into the final round and eventually finished third.

In the other weight event, the shot put, he didn't advance past regionals.

This season was a reversal. Washington qualified for state in the shot, but not the discus.

"It is kind of like two classes in school," said Washington, his team's only state qualifier. "Your grades are low in math, so you work hard on it. But you let the other class slide a little. Then you have a see-saw."

Washington hit 58 feet, 2 ¾ inches to win the shot at the Class 5A Region I meet in Lubbock last month. It fell a little short of his career-best, 58-61/2, which won a gold medal at the Texas Relays.

He was in the 55-foot range last year.

For his improvement, he credits added strength and explosiveness

"I've already told him next year, he's going to have to put things together and go to state in both," Mitchell said.

Washington's regional mark makes him the fourth seed, so his goal is to finish higher than at least one of the three ahead of him and earn a medal.

Randy Jennings