Track and field insiders throughout SWMO had heard or read stories from a couple years back or even witnessed at junior high meets the staggering distances turned in by Jackson Cantwell in the shot put and discus.
It became obvious last Thursday that word of mouth concerning Cantwell’s strength and prowess also has already spread.
Cantwell’s high school debut made for an unusually large number of fans surrounding the shot put sector at the Branson Invitational.
He lived up to all the hype, as the freshman phenom set new Nixa records while winning the shot put (61 feet, five inches) and discus (168-5 3/4).
Cantwell obviously wasn’t thrown off by all the fanfare regarding his much anticipated debut.
“I’ve kind of learned to cope with (a large crowd) through AAU Nationals, when there were usually 200 people watching around the shot and discus screen,” Cantwell said. "So, I’ve already got a little experience with that. You’ve got to keep your head down and stay within your focus.”
Cantwell maintained his focus by not talking much to his fellow competitors in between throws. Other than exchanging dialogue with his father, former Olympic shot-putter Christian Cantwell, Jackson was mostly quiet.
"Some people might think I’m trying to shy away from them, which I probably am,” he said. “But I’m just trying to keep a competitive edge within myself by trying to stay focused in my own mind and not talking to many people.”
Cantwell was excited to make his debut at Branson, considering what he had accomplished there a year ago, when the shot put sector couldn’t contain one of his throws.
“This is the only place I’ve done that,” he said. “Last year, I had my best meet of the year here. I hit the back of the pit twice and for my third throw, I hit over the pit by about a foot, but fouled on it. It wasn’t even a bad foul. I went off to the side, which does not give you any more power. I should have stuck that. It was a mental error on my part.”
In middle school, Cantwell threw a shot put weighing eight pounds. In high school, he’s throwing a 12-pound shot put.
He had a couple throws Thursday that landed near the border of the sector.
Nixa’s previous school records were 51-9 in the shot put by 2014 grad Jonas Crump and 168-3 3/4 in the discus by 2022 grad Tony Perez, who was a state runner-up as a junior.
“(My) discus was a little shaky. I didn’t do that great,” Cantwell said. “The shot (record) got blown out of the water. I don’t think I could have done a whole lot better in the shot. My stagger could have been better coming across. My power was good. I’m definitely not mad about how I did today.”
Cantwell is optimistic his shot put throws will soon be in the mid-60s. As a three-sport athlete, his off-season training was kept to a minimum.
“Basketball season gets very busy, but I still tried to (train) as much as I could,” he said. “Once or twice a week, I got some technique in, which is what I really needed to do at that time, especially in the disc. I’ve barely gotten any throws in for the shot. So, I might get five more feet, just from getting reps in.”
Throwing with a 12-pound shot put isn’t entirely new for Cantwell.
“I trained with it some (in middle school),” he said. “I threw 51 (feet) in seventh grade with a 12-pound shot. If MSHSAA would have let me compete then (in high school meets), I wonder where would I had been at that point. It’s interesting to think about.”
MSHSAA’s all-classes state records in the shot put are 66-3 by Boonville grad Corey Jones and 218-3 in the discus by Jefferson City’s Devin Roberson, now competing in college at TCU.
Cantwell is well acquainted with Roberson.
“My Dad’s Olympic coach coached him,” Jackson said. “It’s going to be hard to beat (his record). I respect him a lot because he had really good technique (in high school) and was powerful.”
Cantwell has his sights set on the state shot put record.
“With a good throw, I think I can get that this year,” he said. “It will take a lot of work. But I would love to shoot for that. Even if I would fall a little short of it, I could still have a great season.”
Long-term, Cantwell would love to become a four-time state champ in both the discus and shot put.
“I know that’s obviously a big goal to shoot for,” he said. “It would be incredible. I figure why not go for it. There’s no reason not to.”
