Most years, a throw of 55 feet, 10 3/4 inches would be good enough to win a state championship in the shot put.

Unfortunately for Biddeford junior Matt Brady, 2016 was not most years as South Portland standout Dan Guiliani was standing in his way.

Brady would have to settle for a second-place finish at the Class A state meet as Guiliani let loose a state-record throw of 67- 03 1/4.

“The kid he’s come in second place to is a phenomenal thrower from South Portland. I think he just go a full scholarship to Iowa State,” said Biddeford coach Ron Ouellette.

Despite having to throw against Guiliani, the Biddeford standout has made his presence known in the track community.

“He’s had to be in the, I’m not going to even say shadows because Matt’s made his own reputation because of the throws,” said Ouellette. “People that really know the throwing events, the shot and discus, it’s kind of a close-knit group of guys and when somebody throws 55 feet, they know that’s big. Any other year, that’s the state champion and good people are aware of that.”

Ouellette believes Brady’s success – which has included second-place finishes in the shot and discus at Southwesterns — starts with his passion for the sport.

“He has a real love for the sport … he really cares about it,” said Ouellette. “So many times you get kids in track that are doing it to work out for another sport, that kind of stuff, but Matt is a true track kid.” Brady took to the throwing events right away – and once he started winning meets, he dedicated himself even more to the sport.

“He loves the throws … and then what happens is you get a little bit of success and that just breeds more success and that’s what kind of happening with Matt right now,” said Ouellette.

Brady, who also took third in the discus at the state meet, is so passionate about the sport that his coach sometimes has to rein him in.

“He throws all the time and, in fact, sometimes I have to hold him back a little bit. The discus, I think he can throw a lot more because it’s a different kind of arm action … but the shot put, there are times, just like when your a weight lifter or a baseball pitcher, there are times when you don’t want to throw hard,” said Ouellette. “It’s a good problem to have, to try and control and harness that a little bit … he just loves what he’s doing and, like I said, he’s had some success.”

Ouellette believes that if Brady puts in the work in the offseason, the standout will have a chance to take the next step up the podium.

“I told him after the state meet, ‘to get to that next level, you have to hit the weight room.’ He knows that and his father knows that and if he does those things you are going to see another spike in his performance,” said Ouellette.

— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 322.