The day after Austin junior Amber Hansen broke the Austin High School shot put record this week, she went to school like any other day.

She didn’t make a big scene and she didn’t even tell anyone that she had broken the record, but Hansen was greeted with plenty of well wishers as she walked to class.

“I’ve never broken a record before. A lot of people haven’t,” Hansen said. “It’s awkward for me because I’m more humble about it. I don’t flaunt it.”

Hansen’s best throw heading into this season was a 38-11.5 and she was hoping to hit a career best throw of 39 feet at some point this spring, but now her goals have been elevated. On Tuesday, Hansen’s throw of 40 feet, 11.25 inches broke the record of Austin grad Beth Morem, who set the mark in 1983.

If Hansen can repeat her throw of 40-11.25 at the Section 1AA meet, she’ll likely be headed to her first Class AA state meet this season.

“Throwing a 40 was amazing and throwing over state qualifications was even more crazy,” Hansen said.

“I didn’t think it was really going to go that far and I was like ‘wow I just threw that.”

Hansen, who will be throwing at the Hamline Elite meet Friday, started competing with the Packer varsity team when she was just an eighth grader and she’s gotten used to competing against older throwers at meets. Austin head coach Nancy Jones said that things have clicked for Hansen this season as she’s become more confident.

“We knew she was capable of throwing that far, but there were nerves in the big meets,” Jones said. “As she got used to it, I think it got a little easier.”

Hansen, who is also active in basketball and volleyball, grew up running in the 400-meter dash and 4 x 400-meter relay at Ellis. But one day her mom told her she should try out the shot put, since she was good at the softball throw. Hansen soon found herself throwing further than some of the high school girls.

“I tried it and I was good at it,” Hansen said. “Being on varsity the last couple of years was a little weird because I was so much younger. Now I know quite a few of the throwers and they’re all pretty nice girls.”

Hansen now has the state meet on her radar and she feels like she has a chance to make it for the first time. She’s also looking forward to throwing the shot put in the Hamline Elite Meet.

Above all, Hansen wants to see the entire Packer track and field team show growth.

“It’s not all about me,” Hansen said. “I help the other girls too and I’m trying to help the younger generation so we have a good program when I’m gone.”

Hansen is one of three current Packers to hold an AHS track and field record. Senior Rachel Quandt has the school record in the 100-meter hurdles and senior Madison Overby has the record in the 1600-meter run and 3200-meter run.

“I just feel fortunate to have the girls on the team that I do this year,” Jones said. “I’ve got girls that work incredibly hard and Amber is one of the last one’s out of the weight room every night.”

Overby will run in the 1600-meter run at the Hamline Elite meet and Jany Gash will compete in the triple jump. Lyle-Pacelli’s Sarah Holtz will compete in the high jump.