Practice, weights, form technique help Keota’s Bryce Greiner win shot put

SIGOURNEY — Two years away from practicing field events has to have a detrimental effect on a thrower. Unless the time away is used to get stronger.

Keota’s Bryce Greiner won the shot put Monday with a toss 3 feet beyond his previous best of 40 feet, recorded two weeks ago.

“I’ve been really working on my form in practice, and I practice a lot,” Greiner said. “It took me a while to get my form back. Taking two years off was definitely tough, but I also added a bunch of muscle during those two years and got stronger.”

Greiner sends the shot airborne, a bit like he let the 3-pointers fly as an honorable mention all-conference player for the Eagles basketball team, which lost by two to the state champions.

"That form is way different,“ Greiner said with a smile.

Practice has become an exercise in proper form. Greiner starts at the back of the circle in a bit of a crouch and stays there for some time, then unwinds to throw.

“It’s really about concentrating on my form,” he said. “I have to be sure to do my kick and my landing correctly. I’m always worried about scratching.”

If he adds another 3 feet in the two weeks before district, he will have opponents worrying about him.