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Former Jayhawk discus thrower Mason Finley practices for the U.S. olympic trials. Finley will represent the U.S. in the men's discus throw at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and is one of five Jayhawks who will be competing.
Caroline Fiss/KANSAN
G. J. MELIA
@gjmelia
As one of five current and former Kansas athletes to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics, discus thrower Mason Finley will not only be representing the United States, but all the stops on his road to get to this year's games. Finley attended Kansas from 2010-2012.
"Mason's heart has always been with Kansas," track and field head coach Stanley Redwine said. "He's been nothing but an ambassador for us, anything we ask him to do he does. He's a great guy to have around and we're really excited he's here."
Although he was born a short drive down I-70 in Kansas City, Mo., Finley went to Buena Vista High School in Buena Vista, Colo., where he became one of the best young throwers in the country.
When he was 18, Finley competed in the 2009 Junior Pan American Games in Port of Spain, Trinidad. There, he took home gold medals in both the shot put and discus throw events. He began his Kansas career
strong, winning the Big 12 meet and finishing second at the NCAA meet in both the discus throw and shot put. He matched this career-high two years later, again finishing second in the discus throw.
Finley transferred following his junior year, citing personal and family reasons for the change.
Mason's heart has always been with Kansas. He's been nothing but an ambassador for us, anything we ask him to do he does. He's a great guy to have around and we're really excited he's here."
Stanley Redwine Track and field head coach
In the United States Team Trials in Eugene, Oregon on July 7, Finley recorded a personal best 66.72 meters in the discus
throw, qualifying him for RIo.
"It's a testament to how well my coaches trained me this year," Finley said.
Finley will be looking to measure up to another Kansas great, Al Oerter. Oerter took in the discus throw in four straight Olympics from 1956-1968.
Finley sits 18th in the most recent discus throw IAAF World Rankings. He is the second-highest ranked American, 10 spots behind fellow discus thrower Sam Mattis. At age 25, he is the oldest of the five Jayhawk athletes competing in this year's games.
"In my opinion he's the greatest ever, you know, being able to be that dominant for that long," Finley said.
Finley said he's primarily focusing on preparing himself mentally over the next few weeks.
"At this point it's mostly mental, you know, we've done all the physical work we can," Finley said. "We're not really going to push it so hard on the weights, there's nothing really to gain right now, just to stay in tone physically."