Throwing The Distance, Kyle McKelvey

by Kolbe Nelson
May 23, 2011 6:29 PM


"It's the story of someone that pretty much works really hard and just keeps setting higher and higher goals for everyone and loves putting on a show for everyone."

Beresford Thowing Coach Mikala Zimmerman is referring to our Taco John's Athlete of the Week Kyle McKelvey, her senior phenom who has become easily the best shot putter in the state and one of the best in the country. That's due to a determination that McKelvey attained last season.

"Last year I saw a few state records being broke and all that did was light a fire under me," McKelvey says, "I made a promise, I'll live in the weight room if I have to, I'm gonna have that mark in history."

And he has, McKelvey has thrown for the third longest shot put distance in the country and three of the top five marks in state history this season including the state record of 69 feet, three inches. Despite all of that, McKelvey has one major goal, but even if he doesn't meet it, it's not the end of the world.

"There's some minor kinks I think I can work out and maybe set the bar a little higher and I'll try and hit that 70 foot mark," McKelvey says, "But if I do I do and if I don't, whatever."

Whether he hits 70 or not, the small town boy will stay to his true to his South Dakota roots when he continues his throwing career at USD next year, a decision he doesn't regret making since becoming a major record breaker.

"You know a lot of colleges, they assume you're gonna do a little bit better your senior year so I still had to pick through a lot of schools," McKelvey says, "Some Big 10, Big 12 schools and I still picked USD and I'm still gonna say with USD I chose it and it's where I wanna go."

And only time will tell how many more records McKelvey will break at the next level.

Follow KDLT Weekend Sports Anchor Kolbe Nelson on Twitter at @KolbeNelson