Wyoming’s Mason Finley Eyes The Prize

After a pair of runner-up finishes and a third place showing, Wyoming’s Mason Finley seeks a national title today at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

The senior will represent the Cowboys and close out his collegiate career by competing in the discus at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Finley’s event starts at 5 p.m., Mountain Time.

Finley has earned 10 All-America honors is his elite throwing career, but would love to capture a national championship.

Finley said, “As far as numbers go, I’m just going to have to wait on what the weather conditions are there. Then, from there, I can kind of know what to expect.”

Wyoming associate head coach Paul Barrett, who coaches the throwers, said this will be a very tough competition.

“It’s the deepest field ever in the history of the discus, so he’s (Mason) got his work cut out for him. Past years he’s gotten second; one year I think he threw 191 (feet) to get second; that won’t even make the final this year. There’s 11 guys over 203 (feet), which is crazy.”

Finley enters this year’s meet with the fifth-farthest throw in the nation at 210 feet, 6 inches. He also feels confident and comfortable with his training.

“We’re going into this thing really prepared, so with any adversity, I’m going to do really well,” Finley said.

Barrett believes the key will be for Mason to stay relaxed with his upper body and let his lower body lead the throw.

“He certainly has the potential to win it. His P-R throw (210-6), if he throws that in the meet I think will win it because of the pressure situation,” said Barrett.

Barrett also stated that past experience in this competition will help, as well.

Mason Finley will try to become only the fourth national champion in school history and the first since Shauna Smith accomplished the feat in the 400 hurdles at the outdoor championships in 2005.