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Polk County native Harrison Waddell is a national track and field champion.

 

Waddell won the Boys Discus Throw Emerging Elite competition on Saturday at the 2022 Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Ore.

 

Waddell, who attended Polk County High School until moving to IMG Academy in Florida for his senior season, won the discus event with a throw of 50.86 meters (166-10).

 

Waddell topped Alberto Orta (49.79m) of All-American Throws Track Club in Texas and Phillips Moore (47.55m) of Mableton, Ga.

 

The national title came a day after Waddell placed eighth in the Boys Shot Put Emerging Elite competition with a top throw of 15.83 meters (51-11 1/4).

 

Both of Waddell’s top efforts in the shot and discus were personal-best throws.

 

The Nike meet concludes Sunday, and Waddell will again be in action in the Boys Hammer Throw.

 

The state 1A champion in the shot put as a junior at Polk County, Waddell recently signed a national letter-of-intent with the track and field program at High Point University.