Last spring, Los Gatos senior Nik Kay won Central Coast Section titles in the discus and shot put and put the finishing touch on a stellar high school career by taking the state title in the discus.
Kay now competes at West Valley College using a heavier discus and shot put, but he is still performing like a champion.
Kay won the Coast Conference championship Saturday at Hartnell College in Salinas with a personal best in the discus of 177 feet, 10 inches. He finished second in the shot put, with a personal best mark of 51 1/2 feet.
In high school, competitors use a 1.6-kilogram discus and a 12-pound shot. At the college level a 2-kilogram discus and a 16-pound shot are standard.
Kay had never been much of a weight lifter, but his high school coach and current adviser, Ron McKee, has stressed the importance of ``reliable strength,'' which is developed through repetition instead of power lifting.
Before the season began, Kay put in his time in the weight room, concentrating on developing his legs. He can now squat 415 pounds 10 times.
``He can throw all day with that kind of leg strength,'' said McKee, who works with Kay twice a week.
Kay is 6 feet 7 and weighs about 300 pounds, 20 more than last spring.
``Nik likes to get his timing together. He throws by feel,'' McKee said. ``But moving this weight and getting bigger is going to help.''
On Saturday, Kay slipped in the ring on his first discus attempt. He changed into a pair of tennis shoes, which provided a better grip, and came through with throws of 177-5 and 177-10.
``Nik is throwing a man-size discus now, competing against the big boys,'' McKee said. ``He's feeling strong and his training is coming along, I think he's peaking at the right time.''
McKee has a hands-off coaching style; he didn't attend some of Kay's biggest meets in high school.
``I'm not the one throwing out there. He needs to be able to work things out,'' McKee said. ``I coach so the athlete becomes his own best resource. The distance we have between us right now is perfect for his potential growth into an Olympic-caliber athlete.''
Kay was one of seven winners from West Valley College's team at the Coast Conference meet. The men's squad finished third, and the women came in fifth despite having just five members on the team.
``We definitely made the most of what we had,'' said West Valley distance coach Lisa Renteria. ``We were impressed with our finish with only a small number competing.''
Sophomore Michael Buttery (Piedmont Hills High) defended his title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:57. Isidro Trujillo (4:29.35) and Mitch Robeck (4:31.64) finished first and second in the men's 1,500.
Former Santa Clara High standout Lenin Zapata won the men's 5,000 meters in 15:32.92.
On the women's side, Shelby Burrus had a strong showing, winning the 1,500 meters in 5:05.88 and taking the 800 in 2:26.83. A former sprinter at Milpitas High, Burrus is running the middle distance events for the first time this year.
Shannon Hanly (Lincoln High) pulled off a quick double victory. She won the high jump with a mark of 4-10, and 10 minutes later, she won the 100-meter hurdles (16.20).
| Contact Dennis Knight at dknight@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5899. |