LAKEWOOD– The night before the 5A girls’ state shot put final, Vista Ridge’s Meron Hoffman texted her teammates that she would be a state champion. 

The manifestation worked, and Hoffman became a state champion Saturday at JeffCo Stadium on her last attempt of her high school career. After scratching her third, fourth, and fifth attempts, Hoffman threw a personal best of 39-10.75 to secure her first Colorado High School Activities Association state title. 

“No athlete wants their last throw to be the one that’s going to determine their place,” Hoffman said. “But after scratching, something clicked.” 

Hoffman’s Werewolve teammate and friend Justine Laulu, a junior, placed third with a throw of 38-09.75. 

“I’m hoping it’s her next year,” Hoffman said of Laulu, whom she embraced upon securing the championship. 

The senior felt a lot of pressure going into the finals with a fourth-place seed a year after placing third in the event in her first state appearance. She had a rough season riddled with injury, but finally found momentum after placing eighth in the 5A discus on Thursday. 

“Obviously, every senior wants to win a state title, but this is like my life more than words can describe,” Hoffman said. “It’s my favorite thing to do.”

Hoffman began throwing in fifth grade and has been training year-round since. She plans to continue her career at CSU Pueblo in the fall, and feels sad to leave her teammates but also relieved and excited about what’s to come. 

Saturday was all about having fun for Hoffman, and she just did that, and more. 

“I love the competitiveness, my teammates, and competitors,” Hoffman said of the sport. “They literally make it the reason I want to do this.  So coming into this year, I knew I needed to take it in and enjoy it.”