By Rich Winter

605 Sports

SIOUX FALLS — Immediately after receiving his gold medal for the best shot put mark at the South Dakota state track meet Pierre’s Jason Maciejczak hopped in his car, drove directly to Lincoln, Nebraska, to begin his collegiate football career. 

Maciejczyk won the AA state championship in the shot put (61-11.75) Friday and finished third in the AA discus on Saturday (175-4). 

“Track has always been a thing to keep me in shape and get me ready for football,” Maciejczak said. 

There have been some football benefits coming from throwing heavy implements around dirt pits and grassy fields. 

“You can’t get the coordination it takes to throw the shot put and discus in any other sport,” he said. “It’s one of those things where you are glad when it’s over and I’m kinda glad that it’s over.” 

During the shot put competition Friday, Maciejczak watched his biggest rival, Sioux Falls Washington’s Kael Miedema unleash an early throw of 61-6.75.

 The competitor in the Pierre senior immediately got fired up. 

“When I see a big throw I know I need to get a big throw,” he said. “I’ve always been a competitor and always wanted to win so when I saw that first big throw I knew I had a couple things to fix but I also knew I could do it.” 

The individual aspects of the shot put and discus have always enthralled the future Nebraska Cornhusker. 

“In the shot and discus it is all about yourself,” he said. “You can’t worry about the competition but if you set a personal best that day, that’s all you have to worry about.” 

Maciejczak reports to the Cornhusker football program Saturday morning.