Martha's OSU Meet - Jesse Owen's Classic

In May, My younger sister Martha competed in a huge intercollegiate track and field meet at Ohio State University called the Jesse Owen's Classic. There were college and professional competitors from all over the country.


It was so fun to see Martha compete. She threw the hammer throw and shot put. We don't look very related, especially because Martha can squat 350 lbs, and bench press 180 lbs! (I am lucky if I can get a watermelon into my cart at the grocery store...) But we are both Shepard's at heart, and I hope that I have some of Martha's attributes, if not her great strength and athleticism.

Martha has the best sportsmanship I have ever seen. She is kind and considerate of everyone, and thinks of others before herself. Martha is the peacemaker in our family, and so we all kind of like her the best because she is so nice.


We have a very supportive family and are lucky to have a lot of family still living in Columbus, OH, the place where we were born. A lot of our family was able to make it: Aunts Diane, Candi, Laura, Linda, Uncle Scott, our cousins Josh, and Jason, second cousins Suade and Cohen, and my parents and 3 youngest siblings drove all the way from Chicago to come to the meet. (We were so sad Seth couldn't get off work). Thanks to all that came out for Martha's meet, and those who wanted to, but couldn't make it. We love you!


(Aunts Diane and Laura)
Hammer throw.
Martha threw mostly shotput in high school, and she broke tons of school and district records, competed at State all four years, and was the State Champion in shotput her senior year!


We Shepard's like to play the card game, Euker. Martha and Jacob both got initiated into the family by learning to play. Candi was coaching Martha, and they named themselves "Cantha;" then my Mom was their partner, so they became "Tecantha" apparently a Jaguar would be their mascot.


(Martha, Candi and my mom, Terri: Tecantha!)

My Aunt Diane and I played their team, so we became "Diamily," and our mascot was some type of bird. It was a hilarious game to say the least.

(Diane, Laura, Martha, Candi (Sorry I missed you in the pic, Aunt Linda!) Martha has just finished her freshmen year at Illinois State University.

(My two brothers, Trey and Jacob) How did they get so tall!?
(Me, Mom, Martha, and Ashley (We missed you Claire and Hannah!)
(Dad and me)
(Aunt Diane, Josh, and Uncle Scott)

I got videos of Martha throwing shotput and hammer-throw. When Martha had to throw the shotput, it was pouring rain, and so windy! It really was miserable, and as you can see, Martha had to throw in a puddle. She still did great though! We're proud of you Martha!