NTL TRACK & FIELD: CANTON'S KAPICHOK MEDALS AT STATES (2023-05-26)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
SHIPPENSBURG — With his state medal already assured Canton’s Kyle Kapichok could relax on the final throw of his high school career. And it ended up the being the one he’ll be remember for as the Warrior etched his name in the school record books with a heave of 159-feet, 6-inches to take eighth in the discus at the PIAA Track and Field Championships Friday.

“I was nervous the whole time,” Kapichok admitted. “I got eighth place and I’m so happy.”

He came out strong with a throw of 155-feet, 1-inch on his first attempt. It was just two feet short of his best, got him into the finals, and would have been enough to take a medal.

“It felt good,” Kapichok said about his first throw. “It relaxed me a little bit so then it helped me throw another couple good ones.”

His next one was 150-feet, 11-inches as he entered the finals in the eight spot.

That meant a lot of watching Quaker Valley’s Alex MacDonald in the ninth spot during the finals. After two less than stellar throws MacDonald left it all out on the field with a throw that looked to be as long as Kapichok’s best on the day, hitting in the mid-150’s.

“I was freaking out a little bit,” explained Kapichok. “I was like, ‘that’s right there.’”

It ended up being 154-feet, 6-inches, close enough to make Kapichok sweat, but not enough to overtake him.

“I was way more relaxed,” he said. “(Before) I was kind of nervous, I was kind of shaking.”

He’s glad that his last throw in a Canton jersey will be the one that gets into the record books.

“It’ll be a little bit more cushion before someone else breaks it,” Kapichok said.

He had no short of fans out to support him, with both a big contingent in the stands and out in the field. There was no bigger supporter than his dad, and coach, who had tears in his eyes after he saw his son medal.

“It’s pretty awesome,” he said about sharing this with his father. “I’ve worked with him my whole entire life with every sport I’ve done.”

As for his future Kapichok plans on throwing at Alfred State.

“I want to keep it going as long as possible,” he said. “Keep it fun.”

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PHOTO CAPTION: Canton’s Kyle Kapichok throws the discus…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING