Kyle Moison Is Motivated By Much More Than Personal Records


* Kyle Moison has been near the top of the national weight throw charts all season long

Photo Credit (Left Image): Valley Breeze

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Kyle Moison is never disappointed with a PR, whether it's by an inch or a foot.

He'll tell you that straight up.

"At the end of the day, I'm here to throw as far as I possibly can," he says.  

But boiled down, that also means one thing: Moison is always in search of another big throw.

And guess what? In 2020, things have been going quite nicely. The Lincoln High School senior and University of Auburn recruit has stretched his personal best mark in the weight throw by nearly four feet, culminating with a career toss of 78 feet, 8.5 inches this past weekend at the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Indoor Championships on Feb. 15. 

If not for the debut of two-time returning New Balance Nationals Indoor champion Trey Knight the same weekend -- Knight threw 83-11.75 at the Simplot Games -- Moison would have found himself at the top of the country in the weight throw. 

But here's a fun fact: Moison isn't concerned about someone throwing farther than him.

"People are throwing far and at the end of the day it's going to want to make you throw far," he said. "Competition, nothing beats it." 

In fact, he applauds efforts like it. Even welcomes them.

In-state competitor Logan Coles, of Woonsocket High School, launched a personal best mark of 77-4.5 on Feb. 8 at his Rhode Island State Championships. It was about a foot farther than Moison.

Didn't matter. He embraced it. 

"What makes throwers so unique is that as athletes, yeah, we all want to throw far," Moison said. "We want to beat the best guy. But we also want to see the best guy throw as far as he can. Logan, he pushes me. Trey Knight, he pushes me." 

On top of his successes in the weight throw, Moison also ranks US No. 20 in the shot put with a mark of 59 feet, 0.5 inches. Like his work in the weight throw, he's changed his technique in recent years. It's led to more consistent marks. 

But part of that development has also come out of a desire of wanting to get better, he says. Internal motivation has driven Moison, a returning All-American at New Balance Nationals Indoor, toward greater heights in 2020.

He's secured five efforts over 75 feet this season alone, compared to none in 2014.

"When he has the pressure on, he seems to do pretty good," said Brian Grant, Moison's head throws coach at Lincoln. 

Two possible reason for the high schooler's quick ascent has been his work ethic and focus on technique.

Over the season, Grant has worked with Moison on adding another turn in the circle. He's up to three. Moison says he's added a toe turn that helps set up the other three.

There's also an increased focus on his delivery -- 'pitching it out instead of across' -- which has led to more consistent attempts in the weight. 

"He's a very athletic kid," Martin said. "We mimic what he does in the hammer." 

"With me having one of the best coaches ever," Moison said. "It's been smooth sailing. We've worked on the changes in every practice." 

In the shot put, Moison has moved from the glide technique to the spin. That took place in 2019. While he has yet to eclipse his personal record of 59-11 from 2019, he's scored three separate efforts over 59 feet and has five combined over 57.

Consistency, he believes, will eventually lead to a bigger reward. 

"It's like any sport, the more reps you put in, the better you get eventually," Moison said. 

Let's talk about focus. A former football player, Moison converted to the track and field exclusively this season. He signed with Auburn over the National Letter of Intent period in the fall. His future will continue beyond 2020. 

More time afforded in the circle has led to better precision. In training, Martin says, the pair will set a plan to work on a few things, then come out and break down the technique on video. 

"Other times during practice," Martin said, "We'll try to keep it simple. We'll just work on one to two things at a time. The majority of the time, everything else falls into place." 

The bigger payoff down the line could be the outdoor season. With a PR of 233-4 in the hammer, Moison is the second best returner in the event -- only behind Knight -- and is top 25 in the discus. He's on the cusp of the top 50 marks in the country in the shot put. 

But first, the Rhode Island senior is focused on ending his indoor season on a high note. 

"The consistency is a big thing we're looking for," Martin said. "Hopefully a big number will pop from there." 

"Anywhere around 78 to 80 feet," Moison said. "I'd be happy with that." 


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