CHECKING IN WITH ... THOMAS JOYNER III
(Editor's note: The Day will be publishing a profile of a spring athlete for each day the high school athletic season is suspended.) School: Fitch High School
Class: Senior Sport: Boys' track & field
Events: Shot put, discus
College choice: UConn
Chosen major: Electrical engineering
Favorite high school class: Physics
Checking in with Tom: "The single most exciting aspect of track is the ability to rely on myself for my performance. Doing team sports, for me, was just an excuse for my poor performances and an escape from my competitive drive."
What you need to know about Tom: Joyner was the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I indoor track champion in the shot put with a throw of 46 feet, 3 inches, going on to finish fourth in the Class L state championship meet (45-1.5) and 10th in the State Open (46-9). Now comes a season, spring, which features perhaps his best event, the discus. Joyner won the ECC discus title last year (146-6) and was third in Class L and fifth in the Open. Joyner doesn't plan to compete after high school; despite being recruited by several schools for track, he chose UConn for its engineering program. He's hoping for one more chance to throw in high school. "Honestly, in my opinion, I have yet to achieve my best moment in track," he said. "My sole goal for my career was to win states. My brother Mike won when he was a senior (2010 Class L discus champ) and I am hoping this to be my year." Joyner began track in eighth grade, picking up the family trade of throwing. He was fifth in the ECC in the discus as a freshman, then won consecutive titles the last two spring seasons. In addition to his three ECC titles, Joyner is a sixtime AAU champion at the state and regional level in the discus/shot put, a four-time USATF state champion and a two-time Nutmeg State Games champion. Said Joyner addressing his fellow seniors: "This is our year. Let's make the last year the best year. All the goals that we have been working for will finally come to fruition."