Arroyo Grande High’s Olympic connection

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

James Brown has been head track coach at Arroyo Grande High School since 1995. So he saw quite a bit of Stephanie Brown Trafton, the 1998 Arroyo Grande graduate who on Monday won the gold medal in the women’s discus at the Beijing Games.

‘Her four years here were fantastic,’ Brown said. ‘She came out a very tall, awkward freshman, but we got her to focus on the right events -- shotput and discus.’

s discus at 64.74 meters to become the first American gold medalist in the event since 1932. Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US PRESSWIRE

During her sophomore year, Brown Trafton won the state shotput championship. She was runner-up in the shotput the next year, and in her senior year, won state titles in shotput and discus.

‘She had the tools for it,’ Brown said. ‘She was 6-3 and had pretty good feet.’

A basketball player as well as a track standout, Brown Trafton won a basketball scholarship to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, but a knee injury ended her playing career.

Brown said Brown Trafton stays touch with Arroyo Grande High. Last spring, she worked out for a day with track team members, who took home the thrill of going through drills with an Olympian. (Brown Trafton had competed at the 2004 Athens Games but didn’t make it to the medal rounds.)

From 1995 to 2000, Arroyo Grande produced 10 state champions in the throwing events. Banners in the school gym recognize the athletic achievements of students and alumni -- and one from that era reads: ‘Stephanie Brown ‘Olympian.’ ‘

‘We’re going to have to change that to ‘Olympic gold medalist,’’ Brown said.

‘I’m extremely excited about her achievement, Brown said. ‘It’s a tribute to her that she’s kept it going. With that type of event, it’s not just going out there and doing some running.’

-- Steve Chawkins

Updated at 1:48 p.m. with Brown Trafton’s graduation year.