The North Man is Coming South
There is something unique about high school track and field in
the State of Ohio in that our states talent invites challengers. We may be the
forgotten child of the track and field country but our states talent is
undeniable, simply look to Katie Nageotte, Trevor Bassitt, Abby Steiner, and
Clayton Murphy as the current examples of Ohio's prowess. This talent starts in
high school and as our state looks to push our own young men and women to the
next level athletes from surrounding states come to be part of the scene. One
such athlete is a hyper talented senior thrower from Hart Michigan by the name
of Kellen Kimes (Kimes like mimes). The Liberty University bound senior stood
out at the Tiffin high school meet on December 10th and the young
man was kind enough to do an interview with me as I looked to find out exactly
who this out of town talent was that was blowing away some of Ohio's best
throwers.
Kellen has in truth a far more interesting story to tell than most of you or I could say about ourselves. He is the fourth child in a family that has its roots deep in the sport of track and field. Kellen's father went to college on a track scholarship competing as a decathlete and gave inspiration to the children of the family. Kellen will be the fourth child to go to college on scholarship for track and field as all three of his sisters before him did the same. Where the story ventures to unchartered waters for the Kimes is in how Kellen ended up in his collegiate bound events. The Kimes, coming from a multis background, grew up with a pole vault pit in their backyard, we can dub them the Duplantis of Michigan if we like given this level of dedication. Kellen excelled at the vault growing up. When covid hit his freshman year so too did puberty and the young pole vaulter was exposed to a series of leg injuries, including stress fractures, that would limit his abilities in the vault and sprints, ergo the dream of multis was out. As he was working through the pain of the injuries his sophomore year Kellen began to learn the throws. It was meager as first but in a short time he had made it and placed fifth in the discus. The connection to the family and track stayed strong as it was Kellen's father who introduced the throwing events to him, leaning on the background from his collegiate experience. That offseason investment was made in the throws, going to anyone with knowledge and looking for a coach. It was at GVSU that the weight throw would be introduced Kellen's junior year, it was here with the weight and the hammer that Kellen truly found his calling in our diverse sport. Finishing his Junior season with a third place result at the Nike national meet tossing the hammer 195 feet 11 inches. This performance put his according to Milesplit's database in the top 30 nationally and number two performer in Michigan. Now we enter his senior season and Kellen has already thrown down extraordinary marks. He has thrown multiple efforts around 70 feet in the weight throw in limited meets, with his best throw of 71 feet 3.5 inches as the second best throw in the nation thus far. These results earned college interest for the young upstart as he was contacted by Michigan, Michigan State, Grand Valley State, and Iowa before setting his mind and heart to competing for Liberty University next year.
You may be asking why does this Michigander matter for Ohio track and field, it is because our talent invites challenge and so he will be back. He has already competed at the Tiffin indoor meet and plans to make another trip down for an indoor meet at BGSU. Beyond this he will be back in the spring for outdoor with the hammer at River Valley high schools throws meet or the Spire Institute showcase. For Ohio's best there is truly an opportunity to challenge yourself this season in making your way to one of these meets to take on a 60-foot shot putter, 70-foot weight, 195-foot hammer, 170-foot discus thrower at these meets. Remember to be the best you have to beat the best. If Ohio throwers plan to attend nationals it is also a safe bet that Kellen will be at one of those meets as well and knowing competition makes the sport of track and field better.
I asked Kellen what he was hoping for out of his senior season and he respond in a polite confidence that there truly is no limit on what he is working to see transpire. Kellen wants to be back at nationals for indoor and outdoor in as many of the throws as he can be and hopes to earn All-American status across the board. He goes beyond these lofty goals by also saying that he wants to have himself in a place mentally and physically where winning the weight throw and the hammer is possible. As for things in Michigan Kellen hopes to be able to etch his name in history by setting new state records which will mean breaking the current marks of 64-7 and 187-7 in shot and disc respectively. Kellen also added that he hopes that him and his team have what it take to win the MHSAA LP division three state meet and be team state champions.
Kellen Kimes is in my evaluation, one of a kind. The story, the talent, and the character that this young man possess will floor anyone who has the chance to meet him and see him perform. It is my own hope that we do get to see the very best throwers in Ohio go toe to toe with Kellen at some point these seasons. So, calling all of Ohio's throwers, Beware the North Man as he will be coming South again soon.
