Breaking Things

Two-sport star Hinton is breaking records and a little more

From Athletics Spotlight - Spring 2019

Kyle Hinton can’t wait to get outside for track and field this year. Neither can the Washburn University maintenance staff.

In his second year on the team, Hinton broke wooden boards surrounding the weight throw practice area in Lee Arena not once, but twice this season.

“With people throwing heavy objects in closed spaces, things are going to break,” he said. “I just hung on to it too long, and it went to the left too much.”

The extra force paid off as he finished third in the MIAA and finished ninth at the NCAA indoor championship with a school-record throw to earn an All-America award. His focus now will turn mainly to his favorite outdoor season event: the discus throw.

“Weight throw is a very explosive event,” he said. “You have to generate speed really fast in a short amount of space. For discus, you have to know when to speed up and when you hit your positions. It’s really technical."

Hinton uses the same strength and technique as an offensive lineman on the football team. He’ll be a senior this fall.

“There are a lot of similarities,” he said. “You have to be explosive. It’s not always about being the biggest.”

Hinton and the offensive line only allowed 13 sacks last year. He was a first team all-MIAA and third team all-region honoree, and he has his eye on a conference championship and a football All-America award next year.

“I worked really hard to get to where I am,” he said. “We took the most pride in keeping our quarterback clean and not letting anybody get past us. Come out with that mentality every game, and you’ll get those awards.”

Hinton puts a lot of thought into his play, but he’s probably putting more into his education. He’s a psychology major and he’ll be finishing his academic work next spring with an internship in a psychological setting.

“I like the field and the department,” he said. “They challenge how you think about certain things and they’re really detailed about it. I feel really prepared for whatever happens after graduation.”

Washburn assistant coaches happened upon Hinton while visiting his high school in Peoria, Arizona. He shared his highlight video, and they offered him a visit to campus.

“I remember it being completely different than any of my other visits,” he said. “They talked to every recruit one on one and made it more personal. They tested us on our strength and agility. I like that I could show my potential, rather than just what was on my recruiting film.”

Hinton is excited for the future of both his teams. The Indoor Athletic Facility, which broke ground this spring, means throwers will have a more appropriate space to practice and the football team can be protected from unpredictable weather.

“It’s going to shoot our athletics into a new realm,” he said. “Our facilities are going to be at the top of the pack, and our training is going to go off the charts.”

He’s thankful for the donors who funded the building and the scholarships making his education possible.

“It gives a lot of people an opportunity to get a great education they otherwise may not be able to afford and to keep playing the sport they love.”