Kamron Kobolak won his first indoor state championship in the shot put on Feb. 17 and enters the NJSIAA Meet of Champions as the second best thrower in New Jersey.
When he’s in the right mindset, Cinnaminson High School senior Kamron Kobolak believes he can be the best shot put thrower in New Jersey.
“I definitely don’t like to count myself out,” Kobolak said as he prepared for the NJSIAA Indoor Meet of Champions. “You’re only as good as you are that day.”
Kobolak has been consistently great in the circle this indoor track and field season. On Feb. 17, Kobolak won his first indoor state championship, taking first place in the shot put in the New Jersey Group II finals with a top throw of 57 feet, nine inches. Kobolak’s 2018 success follows a 2017 outdoor season where he also won the Group II shot put championship and finished 12th at the NJSIAA Outdoor Meet of Champions.
Kobolak is the second member of his family to win a track and field state title this decade at Cinnaminson High School. His older sister, Amaris, was an indoor Group II state champion in the high jump in 2012.
Kam with his gold medal after winning the shot in 57'9"!!! Joins his sister Amaris in being a state indoor champion! @CinnaminsonBOE
“It’s pretty awesome to see my sister’s name and my name on the state champ board,” Kobolak said. “Everyone knows we have a crazy good track family and great athletic background.”
Kobolak was originally a sprinter in track and field, but switched to throwing in sixth grade. Even with the switch, track wasn’t a big priority for Kobolak in middle school.
“I was never really that into it,” he said. “I was more into basketball and soccer. We’re a huge soccer family, so that’s what I spent most of my time doing.”
Kobolak followed a few of his friends and decided to focus on track and field full-time in his sophomore year, quitting soccer and basketball. Since then, Kobolak has developed into a top thrower for Cinnaminson, competing in the shot put in the winter and both shot put and discus in the spring.
Physically, Kobolak has developed the strength of form of a top shot putter. He loves spending time in the weight room and working on his flexibility at home. His practices consist of constant repetition, with the goal of perfecting his form for meets.
“A lot of repetition, repetition, repetition,” he said. “It’s almost at the point where I want to do a perfect spin with my eyes closed.”
Kobolak’s biggest obstacle is getting into the right mentality when he steps into the circle. He notes how shot put is a completely individual sport and it’s all on the thrower to perform. To avoid negative thoughts, Kobolak begins to calm himself days before a big meet.
“I try to get rid of all negative energy,” he said. “The day before that is all positive. I try to keep very calm. Some may think when they go in the circle and throw a 12-pound ball, it’s all about strength and you have to throw it as hard as you can. When I try to muscle it and throw as hard as I can, I’m terrible. But when I go in, cool-headed and think about what I need to do, I can throw as far as I want to.”
Kobolak has shown major improvement over the past 12 months. Last winter, his season-best throw was 52 feet, 4.75 inches in the 2017 Cherokee Throw Down. At this year’s Cherokee Throw Down on Feb. 6, Kobolak set a new personal best, topping the 60-foot mark for the first time at 61 feet, three inches. The throw set a new Burlington County record.
Ell Ash of Willingboro set the former Burlington County shot put record in 2004 with a throw of 60'7.75". @KamronKobolak had a PR throw tonight by 2 feet, 6 inches to throw 61'3"!
“My mindset was definitely there,” Kobolak said. “I was very calm and there were a lot of different components that went into it.”
Kobolak credits his family and Cinnaminson coach Charlie Kind for pushing him the past couple of years to perform. Kobolak entered the Feb. 25 NJSIAA Meet of Champions with the second best throw in the state this season. Only C.J. Licata of Gill St. Bernard’s School has had a better throw than Kobolak this season.
Kobolak is looking forward to his final high school season this spring, where he believes he can bump his personal best throw to 65 feet. After graduating high school, Kobolak will attend Rutgers University, where he will continue his throwing career and major in business.
