Former KU Thrower Claims American Discus Title, Olympic Bid

EUGENE, Ore. – Mason Finley, an eight-time All-American while donning the Crimson and Blue at Kansas from 2010-12, secured the American discus championship Friday afternoon at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field. The victory marked Finley’s first senior discus title and earned him his first bid to the Olympics Games. Finley’s qualification made him the third former KU track & field athlete to punch their ticket to Rio.
 
Finley, who has enjoyed a breakout year in the discus, moved to second among American discus throwers this year after a life-time best toss of 66.72 meters (218’11”) in the qualifying rounds Thursday. That mark gave Finley noticeable momentum heading into the final Friday as, on just his second throw of the day, he posted the eventual winning mark with an attempt that measured 63.42 meters (208’1″). On a cool and rainy day in Eugene, none of the other 12 competitors were able to come within six feet of that toss, earning Finley his first American discus title.
 
Finley currently resides and trains in Lawrence and will now be able to look forward to the Olympic Games that will begin in just one month. His personal-best mark from the qualifying rounds Thursday has him ranked among the top-15 discus throwers in the world this year.
 
The Olympic discus competition is slated to kick off with qualifying rounds on Friday, Aug. 12.
 
 
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