NBC Qualifying Round Live Stream
LARAMIE, Wyo. - Former Wyoming Cowboy discus thrower Mason Finley is slated to begin competition at
the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday. Finley
qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics after winning the men’s discus throw at
the United States Olympic Trials on July 8, throwing 208 feet, 1 inch to secure
the victory by over six feet.
Qualifying rounds of the men’s discus throw are scheduled to
take place at 6:30 a.m. and 7:50 a.m. MT Friday. Twelve finalists will advance
to the medal round, which will take place at 7:50 a.m. on Saturday.
“I’m very confident and ready to
compete at my best,” Finley said while speaking with members of the media in a
conference call on Aug. 1. “This is definitely the most confident I’ve been. My
main goals are to go in there and to make finals, and to get over 65 meters,
which I know I can do. I think it’s going to take around 66 meters to get to
the podium, and I’m very capable of that.”
Finley lauded Wyoming throws coach
Paul Barrett, who is entering his 23rd season with the Cowboys,
during the conference call for his assistance with Finley’s physical
development and mental growth. Barrett speaks very highly of Finley as well.
“He didn’t act like he was above
anyone else,” Barrett said of Finley’s time as a Cowboy. “He and I got along
real well. We’re both pretty mellow, the same type of personality. Obviously
it’s an honor to have Mason go to the Olympic Games, having come through
Wyoming. It’s pretty rare. It’s not something that happens every day. We’re
extremely excited and proud of him.”
Finley will look to be the first United States discus
thrower to reach the podium in Olympic competition since the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
Current University of Colorado throws coach Casey Malone was the most recent
U.S. men’s discus thrower to make the final round of Olympic competition, doing
so at the Athens Games in 2004. Malone threw 64.33m (211-0.75) to finish sixth
overall.
Finley ranks second in Wyoming history for the discus throw
and received outdoor All-American status in the event as a Cowboy in 2014. Watch
a live stream of the discus competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics by clicking
the provided link above.
