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Jun. 4—LAMOURE, N.D. — In 2024, Norah DelaBarre was thinking of leaving track and field behind forever.
"Track and field is something that has been a part of my family," said DelaBarre, a recent graduate of LaMoure/Litchville-Marion. "My great-grandpa coached at Minot State and so my dad was really into it.
"I started doing track in seventh grade," she said. "I was on varsity as a runner, a jumper and a hurdler, but it wasn't my favorite sport. It was something I did to stay in shape for basketball. My sophomore year, I was really debating not doing it — I wasn't loving it — but that's when I decided to do the discus. I really got into that, and by the end of my sophomore season, I was hooked."
DelaBarre said she had never tried the discus prior to her sophomore season. What drew her to the event was the technicality, the unfamiliarity and the fact that she seemed to have a natural talent for the event. As a sophomore, she placed second at State with a season-best throw of 131 feet, 6 inches.
The next year, she took home the discus title with a throw of 151 feet, 10 inches.
"As a junior, I hit a pretty big PR (personal record) at State, so my goal for this year was just to get back into those decent marks," DelaBarre said. "I am still working on being a really consistent thrower. ... I did hit another PR and that was probably the best day of my season, so that was great ... but entering State, I was just a little bit nervous. I had one thought in my head that calmed me, and it was that 'I practice all of the time, I have hit these throws, I know what to do, and I know these positions.' That kept me calm going into the competition. I also have the best coach in Justin Kramer, and he's taught me so much."
DelaBarre's throw of 143 feet, 9 inches 2026 NDHSAA State Track and Field Championships nabbed her the Class B State runner-up title.
"(State) wasn't my best meet. It had been a rough technical week, so technically it was just a little bit off but overall I don't think it went too bad," DelaBarre said. "I had some pretty good throws that just snuck out of bounds, but that happens to every thrower.
"Getting the opportunity to go throw for the last time as a Loboe was such a great feeling," she said. "There were so many people watching and cheering, and the environment made it probably my favorite of all the state meets. Who doesn't love State track? It's such a good vibe and such a good time."
Since her prep career ended, DelaBarre has been training for the start of her college track and field career at North Dakota State University. On May 30, DelaBarre competed at the Under Armour Track and Field Nationals at IMG Academy, where she threw 139 feet, 5 inches to place eighth.
"I am so excited to be going to NDSU," DelaBarre said. "It's been a dream of mine for my whole life. It's such a blessing to have this opportunity."
DelaBarre signed with the Bison in the beginning of her junior year.
"I was only ever debating basketball as a sport to do in college up until the end of my sophomore year," DelaBarre said. "Once I started the discus, I was actually at a level that would attract Division 1 interest. I was determined at that point to do that.
"I loved basketball with everything in me, but I had the thought that discus would be the one I was going to do if given the opportunity," she said. "When I committed to NDSU, I knew that was what I was destined to do. I am so excited for this opportunity. I am going to get stronger and hopefully set some new PRs over there in Fargo."
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"Track and field is something that has been a part of my family," said DelaBarre, a recent graduate of LaMoure/Litchville-Marion. "My great-grandpa coached at Minot State and so my dad was really into it.
"I started doing track in seventh grade," she said. "I was on varsity as a runner, a jumper and a hurdler, but it wasn't my favorite sport. It was something I did to stay in shape for basketball. My sophomore year, I was really debating not doing it — I wasn't loving it — but that's when I decided to do the discus. I really got into that, and by the end of my sophomore season, I was hooked."
DelaBarre said she had never tried the discus prior to her sophomore season. What drew her to the event was the technicality, the unfamiliarity and the fact that she seemed to have a natural talent for the event. As a sophomore, she placed second at State with a season-best throw of 131 feet, 6 inches.
The next year, she took home the discus title with a throw of 151 feet, 10 inches.
"As a junior, I hit a pretty big PR (personal record) at State, so my goal for this year was just to get back into those decent marks," DelaBarre said. "I am still working on being a really consistent thrower. ... I did hit another PR and that was probably the best day of my season, so that was great ... but entering State, I was just a little bit nervous. I had one thought in my head that calmed me, and it was that 'I practice all of the time, I have hit these throws, I know what to do, and I know these positions.' That kept me calm going into the competition. I also have the best coach in Justin Kramer, and he's taught me so much."
DelaBarre's throw of 143 feet, 9 inches 2026 NDHSAA State Track and Field Championships nabbed her the Class B State runner-up title.
"(State) wasn't my best meet. It had been a rough technical week, so technically it was just a little bit off but overall I don't think it went too bad," DelaBarre said. "I had some pretty good throws that just snuck out of bounds, but that happens to every thrower.
"Getting the opportunity to go throw for the last time as a Loboe was such a great feeling," she said. "There were so many people watching and cheering, and the environment made it probably my favorite of all the state meets. Who doesn't love State track? It's such a good vibe and such a good time."
Since her prep career ended, DelaBarre has been training for the start of her college track and field career at North Dakota State University. On May 30, DelaBarre competed at the Under Armour Track and Field Nationals at IMG Academy, where she threw 139 feet, 5 inches to place eighth.
"I am so excited to be going to NDSU," DelaBarre said. "It's been a dream of mine for my whole life. It's such a blessing to have this opportunity."
DelaBarre signed with the Bison in the beginning of her junior year.
"I was only ever debating basketball as a sport to do in college up until the end of my sophomore year," DelaBarre said. "Once I started the discus, I was actually at a level that would attract Division 1 interest. I was determined at that point to do that.
"I loved basketball with everything in me, but I had the thought that discus would be the one I was going to do if given the opportunity," she said. "When I committed to NDSU, I knew that was what I was destined to do. I am so excited for this opportunity. I am going to get stronger and hopefully set some new PRs over there in Fargo."
Continue reading...
