Lipan discus hurler smashes school record

Lipan High School sophomore Trinity Benitez didn’t just set a record. She obliterated it. At the Class 2A area track meet Benitez hurled the discus 94 feet, 3 inches, shattering the school record by 12 feet.

“She hopes to break her record again at regionals,” Lipan track coach Misty Little said. And why not?

“Trinity has done an excellent job improving her throws from week to week and is starting to peak at just the right time,” Little said. Regionals are Friday and Saturday in Springtown.

The coach has high praise for the 16-year-old. “Trinity has been a great addition to the Lady Indian program,” said Little, complimenting her work ethic in athletics and in the classroom.

Benitez began throwing the discus in seventh grade at Granbury Middle School and has improved every year.

“In the beginning I learned to throw from watching YouTube videos and having my mom record me so I could see what I looked like,” she said. “I have continued to get better since coming to Lipan. We lost our track season last year due to COVID and only had a couple of weeks to practice (this year) due to our extended basketball season. I would like to find a way to start practicing earlier next season in my spare time.”

In her spare time, which is not much, she works at Spring Creek Barbeque in Granbury. One day she might discover why some Americans mysteriously use barbecue as a noun rather than a verb. “I want to be a psychologist when I grow up,” she said.

Benitez runs cross country and is a devoted basketball player for the Lipan Lady Indians. Her defense and rebounding helped the Lady Indians collect the state championship trophy this season. She also plays on a club basketball team (Texas Platinum) in the offseason.

She and her coaches and teammates enjoy hearty laughs over her stumbling acts.

“I fall a lot for no reason,” Benitez admitted. “During one game this past basketball season I fell twice, once on a fast break. My coaches and teammates always tease me about the ‘Ninjas’ tripping me.”

Unlike many teens, Benitez is comfortable talking with people. She’s the public relations officer for the school’s Student Council and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and enjoys visiting with fellow competitors from other schools about what techniques they use when throwing the discus.

She also enjoys learning about politics and wants to be involved with foster youth as an advocate.

“I love Lipan and feel so blessed to be a part of such an amazing community,” she said.