Kai Joyner, Mayo Swimming & Diving

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – If data are supposed to be damaged, then maybe a swimmer like Mayo’s Kai Joyner was inevitable

“Kai’s pretty special, you could say once in a generation,” Mayo boys swimming head coach Scott Diercks mentioned.

A generational expertise for the Spartans breaking faculty data which have stood for generations, together with the 500-yard freestyle report.

“That record’s been standing for 38 years,” Diercks mentioned.

Until Saturday.

“He beat that by about five seconds,” he added.

At the Maroon and Gold Swim Meet on the University of Minnesota, Joyner took first place, set two faculty data (200-yard freestyle: 1:38.95 & 500-yard freestyle: 4:27.90), and had the quickest relay splits of any swimmer on the meet.

“I can kind of tell based on how I’m feeling in warmups how I’m going to swim that day, and yesterday (Saturday) I felt pretty good,” Joyner mentioned.

Joyner is simply a sophomore, however within the pool he’s a vet.

“My parents actually had me in the water at the RAC pool when I was six weeks old,” he mentioned. “It kind of just clicked from there.”

He credit his household for supporting that journey within the 15 years since, a journey that has him dreaming even greater than the Spartans report board.

“My main goal of my career is to try to represent the U.S. on the national stage,” he mentioned. “It’s going to take a lot more time in the pool training, whether it be here or the Rec Center with club, getting more experience as I go to these higher and higher national meets.”

Achieving that dream would probably include greater than faculty data

“He’ll get most of the team records,” Diercks mentioned. “I think he could be a state champion. He could even be a state record holder. They’re very high goals, but they’re very achievable. His work ethic is amazing. I think he could get whatever he works for.”

Joyner will proceed that work, having fun with that course of along with his Mayo teammates, as he strives for private development as an alternative of data, as a result of as Joyner has realized this season, data are supposed to be damaged

“Setting a Mayo school record is a big accomplishment for me, but I’m a little bit more focused on my own personal growth and just helping out the team as much as I can,” Joyner mentioned. “Because there could be someone that comes down the road 20 years from now that goes faster than me.”

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