Beyond the throw: Paul Hoekman's pursuit for success
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Sioux Falls Christian's Paul Hoekman owns the fourth best shot put throw in the nation this year helping become one of the best throwers in the country.
Paul Hoekman claimed first at the 100th Howard Wood Dakota Relays with a throw of 64 feet, more than five feet further than the runner up. The senior's personal best is 66 feet, five inches, a distance he aimed to beat.
'I really wanted to PR today and it was just showed me that I need to give it all I have and sure up my form in the ring,' Sioux Falls Christian senior Paul Hoekman said. 'I think if I can, get the right speed and right trajectory, right amount of strength put into the ball, I think it's definitely possible.'
Paul says his father got him into the throwing when he was in eighth grade and ever since Hoekman is always finding ways to improve.
'Lifting is the best translation over to throwing I think there is,' the senior said. 'And if you can lift more weight, you can throw the ball further. So that's really played a big part into it. And then putting in tens of thousands of throws. It's another huge part of becoming better.'
'Him and Marcus, our junior thrower, who got third today, they go to a church, to Marcus's church, and they throw in the gym throughout the winter, and they're just constantly putting in work and spending time together,' Sioux Falls Christian coach Brett Keepers said. 'So there's just this awesome community that we have in Sioux Falls Christian.
Community Paul was in search of, in his commitment to NDSU.
'I didn't know what to expect,' Hoekman said. 'It's north, it's cold. But when I got there, the team was so well knit together, it seems like family to each other. And that's really what drew me in. I wanted to feel that when I'm that far away from home.'
Paul says he is determined to reach the 70 foot mark at the State Track and Field Meet. If he accomplishes the feat, it will be a new state record. The state meet begins May 29
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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