Rewrite the record books. Mason Finley has thrown.
At the make-up of the Gunnison Invitational on Monday, Mason Finley threw the shot 71-3.25 and the discus 223-4.5. Pending CHSAA approval, both should make new state all-classification records.
But write the records in pencil for now. There's still a lot of season left.
Colorado Track XC talked with Mason Finley to learn more about this landmark event in the history of Colorado high school track and field.
The jump in distance of the shot put of somewhere around five feet didn't happen by dumb luck. Finley credits the change to some input from Art Venegas, track coach at UCLA. Venegas watched Finley throwing at Arcadia a little over a week ago and suggested a new move Finley could add into his motion. Finley commented, "We worked on it all week, and it seemed to work pretty well." Practice throws are now reaching regularly into the high 60s. Indeed, it did work well.
"At the beginning of the year, I wanted to hit 74 in the shot put. It seems possible now."
As for the discus, there isn't much time to measure Finley's throws in practice. But the distances are starting to creep upwards in meets. "I'm consistent at around 220 right now. All I'm waiting for is a good wind."
A good wind, Finley reports, is a right-to-left cross wind, giving a little added lift to the implement after in leaves the hand of a right-handed thrower.
The national high school record sits at 234. Records were made to be broken.
When you've spun around the shot and discus rings as many times as Mason Finley, most things become automatic. But there are still things Finley thinks about while winding up for the throw. "I think about hitting two or three positions I want to hit in the spin. They're different positions in the shot and disc. In the shot put, I want to stay relaxed, you go quicker if you're muscles are relaxes. In the discus, I think about hitting the middle position and the release."
Whatever he thinks about, it works. Watching Finley in the ring and comparing him to other throwers, you are immediately struck with the impression that he's straining less than most; his motion is both fluid and consistent.
When asked if the adrenaline of a big meet helps, Finley indicated that it's something of a mixed bag. "Sometimes the adrenaline will give you an extra kick. But, you can also get caught up in the moment and forget the moves."
There are at least three more big opportunities for folks around the state to watch Finley throwing. On Saturday, May 2, Finley is scheduled to compete at the Tri-Peaks League meet in Colorado Springs at Grace Field (St. Mary's). The following weekend (May 9), Buena Vista travels to their regional meet in Pagosa Springs High School. Finally, the show comes to a grand conclusion at the Colorado State Track and Field meet at Jeffco Stadium. The 3A boys discus begins at 3 PM on Thursday, May 14. The 3A boys shot put is scheduled for Friday, May 15, at 10:30 AM.