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Altice progresses to be one of section’s top throwers

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Michelle Altice was minding her own business at girls basketball practice one day during sophomore year when Del Norte teammate Megan Pugal approached her with a unique opportunity.

It changed her life.

“She asked if I had any interest in coming out for track and throwing a heavy metal ball around,’’ Altice said, laughing at the recollection. “I kind of liked the idea.’’

Actually, track coach Chris Ruff had noticed how well Altice moved on the basketball floor and convinced a teammate to go talk with the 5-foot-5 guard.

“I saw a girl who had amazing feet,’’ Ruff said. “She was so light on her feet. Normally, girls have trouble getting up and down the court but she didn’t.’’

A little more than two seasons later, Altice is approaching her last San Diego Section track championships — the CIF Prelims are Saturday and the CIF Finals are May 28, both at Mt. Carmel — as one of the county’s best shot putters and discus throwers.

Altice is No. 2 in both the shot put and the discus this season, trailing Mount Miguel senior Laulauga Tausaga in both events.

Altice’s personal best in the shot put is 47-feet and the discus is 138-5. Tausaga just lately eased past Altice in the shot put with a 47-2 ½. Tausaga’s record discus mark is 167-3.

The first few times in the shot put ring were not very pretty or successful.

Altice did get off a best throw of 27 feet in her first dual meet.

Considering her personal record is now at 47-0, that first meet was definitely one of the baby steps.

“They shot a really heavy ball — about eight pounds,’’ Altice said. “I remember asking someone how do I throw this thing.’’

Her top discus mark in that initial meet was 76 feet.

“Not great but I got second that day,’’ Altice shot back.

For most athletes, Altice’s performance is last year’s section finals would be considered pretty good.

Altice topped the Division II field in both the shot put (45-10) and the discus (128-8).

She wound up, however, second to Tausaga (47-2 ¼) in the shot put and fourth behind Tausaga (167-3), Khiya Mohamed of Imperial and Bertha Sola of Morse, both of whom were at 137-5.

At the State Championships at Clovis Buchanan High last year, Altice, who will throw next year at Hawaii, had her confidence woes pop up again.

She did not finish in the top 12 in either event.

“She kind of shrunk in the finals,’’ Ruff said. “She didn’t feel she belonged in that group.

“Her confidence level now is completely different. She feels like she does belong.’’

Ruff scraped her slide approach in the shot put and replaced it with a spin move, the same thing she uses to toss the discus.

Almost immediately, she shot past the 40-foot mark she was stuck at.

“I was dangerous with that spin move the first couple of times,’’ Altice said. “A few throws went off to the side. They always say never turn your back on a shot putter.’’

Altice’s throws shot past 43 feet and up as far as 47.

“It just clicked for her,’’ Ruff added. “We think she can tickle the 50-foot mark before too long.’’

At a meet at Mt. SAC this season, during warmups Altice got off a throw that touched the 50-foot mark.

“It got real quiet around the circle,’’ she said. “I don’t think anyone believed what they just saw.

“I thought I had an idea of what I did on that throw, but I was at 43, 44 that whole day.’’

And just how is Altice treated around school.

“Some of the boys know I’m stronger than them,’’ she said, matter-of-factly. “I’ve arm-wrestled a few of them and won.

“You should hear all the hootin’ and hollerin’ when I win. I’ve heard ‘You lost to a girl?’ more than a few times.’’

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