KC-born former KU athlete Mason Finley back in Olympics as American men’s discus champ

It’s another Olympic Games for the newest American men’s discus champion, Kansas City’s own Mason Finley.

Finley, a former Kansas Jayhawk and current volunteer track and field coach at KU, threw 63.07 meters (206 feet, 11 inches) Friday at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, to qualify for his second straight Olympics. The KC-born Finley achieved the mark on his fifth of six throws and will be going to Tokyo with runner-up Reggie Jagers and third-placed Sam Mattis.

After also placing first at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2016, Finley placed 11th in the men’s discus at that year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He was an eight-time All-American between his three years at KU and single year at Wyoming.

If Finley, who went to high school in Buena Vista, Colorado, were to make the discus final in Tokyo, it would be the first time an American has made back-to-back final rounds in the event since Adam Setliff did so in 1996 and 2000.

Missouri’s Mitchell Weber makes final as top college finisher: University of Missouri thrower Mitchell Weber made the final of the men’s discus event at the U.S. Olympic Trials, finishing last out of 12 competitors but making his mark as the top collegiate thrower at the event.

Weber, a redshirt freshman, threw 56.48 meters (185 feet, 4 inches) and was bounced from the competition before his final three throws. Nonetheless, the Minnesotan has had a fantastic 2021: His season-best throw of 60.99 meters (200 feet, 1 inch) made him one of 96 worldwide, and one of just 18 born in 1999 or later, to eclipse 60 meters this year.