Former Monmouth Regional High School state champion Adam Kuehl expects to have a busy summer.
Now a senior at the University of Arizona, Kuehl met the Olympic A qualifying standard in the men’s discus when he broke his own school record at the Salinas (Calif.) Throwers Invitational with a throw that measured 64.98 meters (213-2 feet). His old record was 63.89 (209-7).
“This opens so many doors for me,” said Kuehl, who still holds the Shore Conference record for the discus at 209-0 feet. “Having the A standard will allow me to compete in so many more meets when I graduate and it will put me in position to qualify for the upcoming Pan-Am Games.”
Kuehl won a silver medal in the Pan-Am Junior Games in 2003 the same year he was the Junior National champion. Kuehl’s 213-2, the third best in the country, came on his first throw of the competition.
“I knew it was good once it left my hand,” he said. “I just wasn’t sure exactly how far it was going.”
The new personal best was part of another big season at Arizona for the Monmouth Regional grad. He took third place in the discus (62.31m, 204-5) and sixth in the shot put (18.40m, 60-4 1/2) at the Pac-10 Championships. At the West Regional, he was third in the discus (60.87) and made All-West Regional in both the disc and shot put.
At the NCAA Championships, Kuehl took fifth in the discus (60.66), earning All-American honors for the third consecutive year.
With his college career over, Kuehl will look ahead to big meets this year and the Olympic Trials next year.
While at Monmouth Regional, Kuehl won the Golden West and Penn Relays championships in addition to his 209-0 that ranks third all-time in New Jersey high school competition.