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Technique, Hard Work Pay Off For WC's Joyer

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By LEE DIEKEMPER

Tribune correspondent

Published: March 25, 2009

WESLEY CHAPEL - Mention Kamran Joyer and many local sports fans would know the name. The Wesley Chapel senior was a three-star Rivals.com guard in football who signed with the University of South Florida.

But that is hardly the only sport he excels at. In fact, Joyer might be better at something else.

Already in the early part of the track and field season, Joyer is putting up state meet-type numbers in the shot put. In his first big meet this month at Gulf, Joyer won the shot put competition with a throw of 54 feet, 7 inches. That mark would have given Joyer third place at last year's state meet.

The state finals are more than a month away.

For Joyer, whose personal best in the event is 58-4, his progress this season is the result of hard work. But his solid throws early in the season are also the product of better technique.

"I've been working on my technique a lot," Joyer said. "It's starting to pay off."

In particular, Joyer said not jumping his body too quick in his throwing motion has been the difference.

"It's the whole thing about staying back and then being explosive," Joyer said.

If that isn't enough, Joyer also excels in the weight room. Just after he won the shot, he benched 440 pounds and did 315 pounds on the clean-and-jerk, a personal best.

Joyer has been throwing the shot put for six years, having started when he was in middle school. He has been hooked since.

Joyer's throws have been so impressive this season, USF is trying to get him to try out for track next spring and continue throwing the shot, something he has expressed interest in.

"I want to test it out and try both and see how I do," Joyer said.

Joyer has no intention of giving up football. If he does throw the shot for USF, it will be in addition to playing football.

"Football is my priority," Joyer said.

SECRET WEAPON: While Ridgewood's Brittany Rainey isn't such a secret in running the 100-meter and 300-meter high hurdles, her versatility is. That has been almost priceless for Rams coach Sue Vien, as Rainey has stepped into the 4x400-meter relay and the Rams haven't lost a beat.

Vien lost Porcha Kirby to a foot injury, and Rainey has performed well while running the team's third leg for Kirby.

"She's a coach's dream," Vien said of Rainey, who also excels in the long and triple jumps. "She's such a student of the sport. She not only excels, but she studies her opponents to try to gain an advantage.

"She is and will be successful in whatever she does."

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