Jelmini best in Western Hemisphere

First the state. Then the nation. Now the Western Hemisphere. Anna Jelmini has conquered another set of throwers.

Jelmini, a Shafter High graduate, won gold Thursday in the shot put at the Junior Pan American Games in hot and humid Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Jelmini used her second-to-last throw of 16.37 meters (53 feet, 8.5 inches) to inch past Julie Labonte of Canada, who threw 16.29, in the shot put finals.

Jelmini's mom, Michele, spoke to her daughter and said Anna was excited.

"I let her tell me what had happened," Michele Jelmini said. "Everything always gets on text message and e-mail, so she never gets to tell anybody (she won)."

The Junior Pan Am Games are held every four years and host competitors from countries in North, South and Central America.

Jelmini, who competes in the discus today at 1 p.m. Pacific time, is a two-time CIF state champion in the shot put and discus and won the junior national championship in both events earlier this summer.