Cameron Turner Photo

NORWICH – The Norwich High School will have one representative in the shot put event for this year’s 2016 New York State Championships for Outdoor Track and Field.
Senior, Thomas Reilly, has burst onto the scene in record fashion to become a state caliber thrower, as he currently ranks in the top three for division II in the state, and top eight overall out of division I and II.
Norwich's head coach was asked if Reilly could be named the second best thrower in Norwich’s history. To which coach Horan and a nearby Coach Curley answered with a resounding “Yes, yes he is.”
Reilly just recently posted his personal best throw in his high school career last week at the state qualifier meet in Vestal.
Reilly would throw a 54' shot put for the ultimate win, defeating the next best thrower at the meet by three whole feet, notably that next best throw came from an athlete who had just hit a five foot personal best to reach that mark.
“He is the most pumped up I have ever seen him,” said Horan.
This will mark Reilly's first trip to states in Outdoor Track and Field – as well as the first male athlete from Norwich to go to states for a throwing event in more than twenty years. Reilly impressively has competed in the NYS Championships for Indoor Track and Field this past winter season, something Reilly noted might help him prepare for this new experience.
“I think the competition is gonna be great, I elevate my game when I have competition that is better than me or as good as me. I haven’t really had that all year really. It is going to be a crazy meet,” said Reilly.
Reilly explained that despite his apparent composure, this 2016 season only marks his second year of participating in Track and Field.
“I think it was definitely Stoddard. Him being a football coach, being a line coach and him just keeping me in the weight room,” said Reilly of how Coach Tom Stoddard helped get him interested in the sport. “This year coming into indoor – and throwing alright last year – I realized my first meet in indoor I threw a 47-footer. That made me realize I could really do something with it.”
Thomas explained that in the early practices of the 2015-2016 Indoor Track and Field season he was throwing shot put around 43', when he reached competition in that season he was throwing around 47'. Now in 2016, just a few short months later Reilly is chasing the NHS shot put record of 54'9.
This record mark was set by Doug Wilson in 1971, and notably the last person to truly attempt to break Wilson's record prior to Reilly, was his coach Tom Stoddard when he was in high school in the early 90s.
“I don't know the history of all the throwers in Norwich, so I don't know exactly where I fit in. But i do know that Thomas is definitely top two in school history with a 54 foot throw. I just know that Wilson's record is a monster one, 50 plus throwers in section IV are few and far between,” said Stoddard. “What I am most proud of is Thomas' maturity over the last two years. He works very hard, is appreciative, takes responsibility for his failures and successes, and is very committed to his future. Whether he throws two feet or 60 feet at states, I just consider myself lucky he wanted to hang around a meathead coach.”
Doug Wilson could not be contacted prior to deadline for comment.
Despite records, Reilly will be walking out on the big stage, later on today, June 10, in Cicero-North Syracuse. Shot put is slated to start at 4:30 p.m.
“It is bittersweet because I am so close to that record of 54'9, but that is the first goal. I think the ultimate goal no matter what, is to win a Division II state title. The banner is the ultimate goal,” said Reilly. “Getting everything to go right all at once, to not put too much into it and just rely on my form and technique. I just have to trust my practice, and not just go out there and try to kill every throw because that is when you'll make mistakes and your form breaks down. I know I am ready.”