Technique is an elusive thing to master for most shot-putters.
But Lockport’s John Meyer simply needed to give something new a whirl last year for his sophomore season.
Meyer, who had used the glide technique since taking up the sport as a sixth-grader, took a suggestion from his throws coach to try to incorporate a spin delivery.
The results were immediate. And a bit astonishing.
“His stronger event when he was a freshman was in the discus, and in the discus you spin,” Lockport throws coach Wally Shields said. “But he misses the first six weeks of practice because of basketball, and the initial thought was to stick to the glide until the summer and then to switch to the spin.
“But one day we were out here and decided to just try it, and it immediately went farther than anything he’d ever done with his glide. And he was remarkably consistent with it from the start.”
Meyer’s throws were more than 7 feet farther than anything he’d thrown by utilizing the spin technique. He then carried that momentum from his distance gains all the way to a Class 3A state title with a heave of 61 feet, 2 inches.
“Everything just connected for me with the spin,” said Meyer, a junior. “Maybe I should have just been doing that the whole time. We were toying around with it, but it never felt right before, but then it just clicked, and the distance went up immediately. I just caught on quick, I guess.”
Sometimes tinkering with an athlete’s technique in midstream can do more harm than good. But Meyer bucked all of the natural trends of struggle by taking to the spin technique like a duck takes to water.
“I was a little nervous because the spin is a little more difficult, technically,” Shields said. “I was a little concerned with how consistent he would be, but he was ultra-consistent right from the start. He’s very good with figuring out where his body was and where it needed to be.”
The momentum hasn’t slowed. Meyer cleared 62 feet in the indoor season and has a personal best of 64-2. Flashy barriers like 65 and 70 feet are on his radar, but he knows the progression won’t come in huge gaps like his previous revelation.
The state record is 66-5.75 set by Lake Park’s Jermaine Kline at the 2011 Class 3A finals.
“It’s going to be a lot of small technical things in the ring and a lot of lifting,” Meyer said.
Shields has coached throwers for nearly 30 years at the high school and college levels, and Meyer provides a unique case study for the veteran coach.
“I haven’t seen anything like this,” Shields said. “I think he’ll end up being the best high school shot-putter in Illinois for all time up until this point when he’s done.
“He’s really into it, and you have to be to keep going when you reach this level. He’s certainly not satisfied. I know he wants to throw 70 feet. I don’t know if it will happen this year, but we’re certainly hoping for the high 60s this year and 70 next.”
Steve Soucie is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
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Top Teams
Homewood-Flossmoor: Winners of the recent SouthWest Suburban Indoor Meet, the Vikings possess depth across the entire run of events, and that makes them a tough team to topple in invitational settings.
Morgan Park: Last year’s Class 2A runner-up, the Mustangs took some substantial hits from graduation but still have some exceptional talent. Senior sprinter Juwan Denton is most notable, but several others can’t be ignored.
Hillcrest: With a stable of sprinters at their disposal, it is hard to see a scenario where the Hawks aren’t a factor in big meets. Najee Sylvester and Da’Kari Smith should lead the way but are by no means the only assets for Hillcrest.
Sandburg: Possessing two of the area’s top performers in their respective events in Dylan Jacobs (distance) and Ayo Abiona (long jump) gives the Eagles a tremendous base from where to build.
Leo: The Lions are a dominant force in the Class 1A ranks, having won eight consecutive sectional titles. Leo looks poised to keep that streak alive with a solid core of sprinters led by Michael Mays and Vidal Cargo.
Athletes to watch
Ayo Abiona, Sandburg, sprints, long jump; Malik Adams, Morgan Park, sprints; Matt Beach, Reavis, discus; Nieko Carter, Shepard, long jump; Tori Clinton, St. Laurence, sprints; Antonio Davis, Bloom, sprints; Juwan Denton, Morgan Park, sprints, hurdles; Donnell Freeman, Crete-Monee, hurdles; Damone Garrison, Thornwood, sprints; Dylan Jacobs, Sandburg, distance; Frank Massey, Bloom, high jump; John Meyer, Lockport, shot put; Evan Mitchell, Lincoln-Way Central, distance; James O’Brien, Andrew, long jump; Da’Kari Smith, Hillcrest, sprints; Corey Thomas, Thornridge, middle distance; Juawan Treadwell, Crete-Monee, sprints; Solomon Wilson-Walls, Tinley Park, hurdles; Caleb Washington, Shepard, distance; Lucas Weaver, Providence, pole Vault