Grand Valley State thrower Darien Thornton has been breaking records since he arrived at Grand Valley State in 2012, but his success has jumped to an even greater level recently.

During the GVSU Open on Jan. 2, Thornton set the school record in the weight throw with a toss of 22.06 meters. Eight days later, during the GVSU Mike Lints Alumni Meet, he bested that mark with a heave of 22.42 meters.

Given his skill set and success as a thrower, it might seem obvious that Thornton was destined to excel after high school, but college wasn’t always a guarantee. Thornton is a first-generation college student and claims he wouldn’t be anywhere near where he is today without his mom.

“She was very stressed with the whole college process,” he said. “We didn’t know if I was going to college. She supported me for 18 years of my life and got me the chance to get into a better school district and able to get the coaches looking at me. Without her, I would have never gone to college. I can’t be a GVSU thrower if I’m not at college.”

Now that he is in college, and excelling, Thornton credits his success to GVSU throwing coach Sean Denard.

“He’s the first coach I’ve had for two years,” Thornton said. “We’re on the same page and things are just clicking. I’m used to the program. We’re not switching up different coaches or getting used to anything.”

Denard joined the GVSU staff heading into Thornton’s junior year. At the time, Denard was the third GVSU throwing coach in as many seasons.

“It has been a challenge, but it has also been a blessing,” Thornton said. “You get to hear so many different perspectives and you get to combine them all in the best way you see fit. I’ve pulled bits and pieces from everybody to develop me into the thrower I am today.”

Denard’s training regime differs from that of his predecessors, and ultimately has created results for Thornton and other GVSU throwers.

“My training revolves around technique and nervous-system manipulation,” Denard said. “We don’t push the weights heavy on a single day, but over the course of a week or a program, our tonnage is huge. This gives us the opportunity for a high level of consistent training over a long period of time without the danger you may get in other training programs that require more intensive single session experiences.

“My goal is to teach the athlete how to practice at such a level that their nervous system takes over and causes chemical and mechanical reactions that improve competition results. The more consistent the athlete, the more correct our predictions for peaks and valleys of training can be.”

Other GVSU throwers, like redshirt junior Chris Saikalis, see the results of Denard’s training in themselves as well as Thornton.

“I think coach plays a huge role in us throwing far,” he said. “He makes the workouts so we are able to throw far when we need to. In training we work on the little things, so when the meet comes all we have to do it let the big throws happen.”

Big throws are what have characterized Thornton’s senior season. His 22.42-meter triumph on Jan. 30 was the third-longest throw in NCAA Division II weight throw history. His teammates are inspired by his dominance.

“His performances get the team amped up in the meet,” Saikalis said. “When he breaks a record it is awesome. It brings excitement and energy into the meet and into our team. It makes me feel great because I know that we are throwing with one of the best in DII history.”

Thornton has broken his own record in the weight throw numerous times and he said it’s a bit different chasing himself instead of someone else, but he still remembers his first record-breaking throw as the most memorable.

“My freshman year, to come in and break what was about a 10-year-old record at the time was kind of a statement,” he said. “I’m letting people know I’m here and I’m ready to compete with everybody, so that was a pretty neat experience.”

Thornton’s most recent accolades have come during the indoor season in the weight throw, but he is also an All-American and the GVSU record holder in the hammer throw. In 2014, his throw of 65.92 meters became the GVSU mark to beat.

“My favorite event is the hammer throw,” he said. “It’s my baby. I’ve been throwing it since sophomore year of high school. At the same time, I still love shot put and the weight throw. Any way I can help the team I’m going to do.”

Despite his records, Thornton has yet to be a national champion. He has gotten as close as second in both the weight throw and the hammer throw. He hopes 2016 will be his year.

“It would be an amazing personal experience, but knowing I got 10 points for the team would be even better,” he said. “Hopefully people remember me as a person who aided and assisted them in their first national title as a team.”

The GVSU men’s track and field team has never won a national championship. Thornton believes the time is coming for them to break that trend.

“We’d be at a loss for words,” he said. “It’d just be amazing to be a part of that first time when we put the men’s team at the standard that we’re able to win nationals. Future generations are going to know that they’re going to be a national-caliber team every year after us.”