By Rich Winter

605 Sports

Doane University’s Matt Campbell is looking to go big in his last college track meet — really big. 

Entering this week’s NAIA Track & Field National Championships in Brookings, Campbell is the two-time defending champion in the indoor weight throw and is looking for a third consecutive national championship. 

“My mindset going into this meet is getting myself under control,” said Campbell, a Doane University senior and former Colome High School standout. “I just need to go out and do what I can do. If someone hits a big mark that’s just going to be another challenge for me.” 

Campbell won the Great Plains Athletic Conference title in the indoor weight throw with the top NAIA mark in the nation with a throw of 67-feet and four-inches (20.52 meters).

Participants in the indoor weight throw are tossing an iron ball attached to a triangle mechanism that athletes hold on to while spinning around four times in a concrete ring before heaving that 35-lb.weight onto an indoor field. 

Technique is everything in this event and Doane University assistant track coach Zach Lurz said Campbell is the master of his own domain. 

“When you work with a kid for a long time you have those higher level throwing conversations,” Lurz said. “When he throws he tells me what I want to tell him so that makes the job super easy.” 

Campbell originally began his collegiate throwing career at Dakota Wesleyan. Lurz, a 17-time NAIA All-American, was the throws coach in Mitchell before taking the same job at Doane University. 

“Coach Lurz and I had a strong bond and I knew he would get me to where I wanted to be,” Campbell said. 

Between the shot put, discus, hammer throw and indoor weight throw Campbell has achieved All-American status seven times during his career. 

Campbell qualified for this weekend’s shot put competition but will not be competing in that event. 

Campbell is not the biggest guy in his event, something that he paid attention to his first few years out of high school. 

“The first couple of years I looked at some of those seniors and super seniors,” Campbell said. “I took some pride in being the smallest guy out there while competing at the highest level.” 

The NAIA National Championships take place at the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings from March 2-4.

Campbell’s parents Dave and Kristen who now live in Pierre will be in attendance to watch their son compete one more time. 

“It’s awesome they can come to the meet and not have to travel so far,” Campbell said. “It makes it a lot easier and it is great to feel their support in person.” 

While the Doane University track team took a bus to the national meet, Campbell drove to Brookings. Following the completion of the meet he will travel to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he will start a job as the throws coach at Missouri Western State.