Mason Finley makes a big impression no matter what he does.

That's what happens when you're a 6-foot-8, 330-pound mountain of muscle.

The Buena Vista star blended his physical tools and athletic ability together to shatter the Class 3A state shot put record Friday at the state track and field championships at Dutch Clark Stadium.

The junior sent the shot put 64 feet, 93/4 inches. The previous 3A record was 58-41/2, set by Faith Christian's Ian Lettow in 2006.

"It's a big deal for me to win state again and get another record," Finley said. "I would've liked to have set the all-classification record, but I still have another year to reach that goal."

Jim Banich of Arvada set the Colorado prep shot put record at 66-31/4 in 1982.

Finley's performance drew rave reviews as competitors and fans alike were asking him for his autograph.

"I don't get caught up in all that stuff," Finley said. "I just try to keep my mind focused on what I have to do."

Thanks to Finley's outing, Buena Vista leads the team standings with 20 points followed by Roaring Fork at 14.

Finley will try to continue his record-breaking weekend at 9:30 a.m. today when he competes in the discus competition. Finley set a state record at 222-1 inch last weekend at regionals.

Because Dutch Clark's discus pit has a capacity of 190 feet, the competition will take place at Pueblo South High School, which can accommodate throws up to 300 feet.

"I think it's kind of cool that they had to move the event," said Finley, who is aiming to capture back-to-back shot put and discus state crowns. "I'm just going to go out there and give it all I have."

Finley won the discus a year ago with a then-state record heave of 186-10 inches while competing for Salida. He transferred to Buena Vista before the school year.

Mike Carr, the weight coach for the Demons, has welcomed Finley with open arms.

"It has been great to coach Mason. Kids like him come around once in a lifetime," Carr said. "The best thing about Mason is that he's a gentle giant. He has been a great mentor to our younger kids on the team, and he's just so humble."

Other 3A boys winners Friday were Eaton's Kolten Jelden (pole vault), Monte Vista's JaLoni Martinez (triple jump), Platte Canyon's Thomas Hoffman (800 meters) and Pagosa Springs' Jackson Walsh (3,200).

On the girls side, The Classical Academy, which has won back-to-back state titles, is leading the team standings with 31 points.

Sam Berggren of Middle Park established a meet record at 2 minutes, 12.70 seconds when she took gold in the 800. She also set a meet record in the 400 preliminaries with a 55.94-second clocking.

Peak to Peak's Margaret Weingart also set a new meet record in the 300 hurdles with a 43.96-second time in prelims. Weingart is the defending champion in that event.

Salida's Katie Dreher won the triple jump for the second year in a row with a leap of 37-61/2 inches. Buena Vista's Jacy Jacobson took top honors in the high jump (5-5), The Classical Academy's Kaitlin Hanenburg won the 3,200 and Gunnison's Kelsey Huckle was the shot put champ (38-9).