COLLEGE STATION-BRYAN, TEXAS — Tri-Valley standout freshman Kane Poje has had a busy summer. Poje competed in Junior Olympic regionals, winning event after event and qualifying for the Junior Olympics in Texas.

Poje competed at the Texas A&M campus on July 23 and 24 after qualifying in both the Shot Put and Hammer Throw in the 15-16 year old division.

According to Coach Tyler Eckhoff, “Kane was, and is, extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to compete at the 2024 Junior Olympics at Texas A&M in Bryan-College Station. He especially wanted me to mention his appreciation and thanks for his local Tri-Valley community and their support of him.”

Kane had set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of the trip, quickly raising enough to cover a plane ticket, hotel room and rental car.

“The support of Kane has been tremendous, and he has been inspired by everyone who has supported him along the way,” Eckhoff added.

Kane’s Shot Put was good for 43 feet and 10 inches, landing him in 21st place after his second farthest throw in a competition this season.

In the Hammer Throw on Wednesday, Poje finished 11th with a throw of 137 feet and eight inches. 

According to Eckhoff, both days of the Junior Olympics were met with some challenges for the athletes. Tuesday saw thunder and lightning weather delays, which pushed back the Shot Put from 2 p.m. all the way to 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday brought the heat, with temperatures surpassing 100 degrees.

“He will come back better than ever for indoor track and field after some much deserved rest and offseason strength training,” Echoff added. “This year was always about development and Kane has accomplished athletic feats in months that many only dream of hitting.”

Taking Notice

After the hammer competition, Kane received a text message from Tri-Valley Alumni Ryan Loughney. Loughney holds the TV record for the hammer throw, was a Division 1 thrower in college, is a 5-time NCAA Champion as well as a two time U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier.

Loughney encouraged Kane to keep at it and expressed praise over how far Kane has come already. He compared his meets and training to deposits in a bank.

Of note, Kane’s 160-foot Tri-Valley freshman Hammer Throw record is well past Loughney’s freshman mark of 130 feet and three inches. It shows the potential of Kane Poje, and many are hoping to watch him do something special in the years to come.

Both Loughney and Kane train with the NYS Hammer Club, coached by Kevin Sullivan. The club has produced some of the best hammer throwers in the nation.