Calera&8217;s Nick Cannady knows what it&8217;s like to face tough competition.

He&8217;s been doing it his entire career.

The Eagles&8217; senior thrower has spent little time competing against athletes from schools similar in size to Calera, instead competing against Class 5A and 6A schools in almost every meet this season.

Calera head coach Dewayne Miner believes big school experience could help Cannady earn a state title as he competes this week in the Class 2A state track and field meet at Heardmont Park.

&8220;I think psychologically it really helps out,&8221; Miner said. &8220;He&8217;s been competing against and learning from these guys from bigger schools all season.&8221;

Cannady has plenty of state experience under his belt going into this week&8217;s competition, having finished fourth in the shot put and second in the discus at last year&8217;s 2A meet.

He agrees with his coach that bigger competition can often mean better results.

&8220;Competing against big schools makes you want to step your game up just that much more,&8221; Cannady said. &8220;It&8217;s helps out a lot when you can go up against the best. You can see a lot of guys&8217; techniques and take away from that.&8221;

Cannady won both the boys&8217; shot put and discus at Calera&8217;s sectional meet last weekend, a feat he hopes to accomplish again this week.

&8220;I felt pretty good throwing the discus,&8221; he said after his sectional win. &8220;But I didn&8217;t expect to win the shot put. That was a surprise for me.&8221;

Cannady will compete in the Class 2A discus at 3 p.m. on Thursday and the shot put on Friday starting at 3:30 p.m