Seckman's Noa Isaia caps high school career by winning Missouri Class 5 discus

After seventh-place finish in shot put, Isaia takes discus championship

Author:
Nate Latsch, SBLive Sports
Publish date:
May 28, 2023 8:47 AM EDT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Noa Isaia wasn’t happy with his seventh-place finish in the shot put on Friday at the Missouri Class 5 Track and Field Championships.

The Seckman senior, who has signed to continue his throwing career at Arkansas State, had a night to think about it before getting to compete in the discus finals on Saturday morning.

“I’m not going to say that shot put is just something I do, like a secondary (event),” Isaia said. “I came to win shot put, but we saw how that turned out. I spent all night thinking about what it would feel like coming back here today and not staying in first place.”

Down to the final throw of his high school career on Saturday morning, with a large crowd of supporters cheering him on, Isaia unleashed a 194 feet 4 inches (59.23 meters) that vaulted him from second to first place.

The toss was nearly 20 feet further than his next best throw (176-6) on Saturday morning, set a personal record and broke Seckman’s school record.

“I felt the crowd’s energy through me, definitely,” Isaia said. “Last year I went through the same situation. I was down the ranks pretty bad and I cranked one out last year and it put me in second. I just knew if I was going to do it again I’d have to make the jump to first. I’m not willing to go down to second place again after a loss at shot put. I just wanted to show something.”

The winning toss helped Isaia move ahead of Nixa standout freshman Jackson Cantwell, who won the shot put on Friday and had to settle for second in the discus on Saturday. Cantwell’s best discus throw traveled 190-7. Staley senior Brennan Boord finished third (175-10).

Isaia, whose full name is Letuligasenoa Isaia, finished second in Class 5 in the discus as a junior with a throw of 174-9 (52.27 meters). He topped that distance with his third of six throws on Saturday, a toss of 176-6 that was good for second place.

After his next two throws traveled 164-10 and 164-5, Isaia had one final opportunity to top Cantwell’s mark of 190-7.

He certainly made the most of that final toss.

“It’s crazy,” Isaia said. “I know I’ve got a real proud family. I could hear them over the whole crowd. It will be something to be proud of for a very long time and a very big school record.”