If someone asks eighth grader Kayden Ames if he throws like a girl, he’s likely to answer in the affirmative. Ames has adopted the throwing style of his mother, Angel (Tibbetts) Ames, who was a three-time Class C State discus champion. Kayden has adopted her method of starting from a low position and throwing from the hip. “There are two types of throwing,” Kayden said. “The modern version is staying upright and going shoulder to shoulder to throw. She taught me to stay low and explode which produces more height and goes another 25 to 30 feet.”

And so far, the old school method has produced results for the younger Ames. According to Mile Split, an online Maine Track & Field and cross country website, Kayden’s 129-foot discus throw is the longest recorded this season. Like his mother, Kayden competes in three throwing events: turbo javelin (a plastic modified pole), shot put and discus. Kayden began participating in track and field as a fifth grader. In Kayden's three years as a thrower, his mom has seen steady improvement in his performance which she credits to his coaches.

In the past two summers, Kayden has worked with high school throwing coach Josh Higgins. And in the spring, middle school track coach Mame Anthony has worked with him on the discus and shot put. “They have really done wonders with him,” said Angel Ames. “I don’t do much coaching because they (coaches) explain things really well and he feels comfortable with them.”

Besides being a champion discus thrower, he is an outstanding basketball player. So which sport does he prefer? The team or individual sport? “I like them both, but track is my favorite. Way too many rules in basketball. In track, you step into the circle and throw. That’s what I like best about it,” he said.

And this spring, Kayden’s goal wasn’t simply outdoing his middle school competitors, he wanted to lay claim to the Ames’ family crown of the longest discus throw. “My mom told me about her history. She could throw it pretty far as a three-time state champion. So I told her, this year, I was going to break her record,” Kayden said. 

Kayden was the top discus thrower at a Wiscasset meet this spring with a 129-foot throw. In Rockport, he finished second with a 117-foot throw. The winner threw 123 feet. In his final meet, Kayden won all three events he entered. He threw the shot put 39 feet and six inches. This places Ames second in the state middle school shot put rankings only trailing Hunter LaChance of Auburn Middle School’s 41-foot seven inch throw on May 8.