Chase Gaca took the advice from his Hope College throwing coach to heart and heaved one for the record books.

The junior from Kingsley, Michigan (Kingsley Area HS) set an indoor school record in the weight throw with a toss of 15.04 meters (49 feet, 4 ½ inches) at Aquinas College on Friday.

Gaca surpassed Chad Rector's 2007 mark of 14.32 meters (46-11 ¾).

Flying Dutchmen Track & Field Records

"This record means a great deal to me, as it proves to me that all of the hard work that I put into practice during the season and all of the offseason workouts and training I partake in are really starting to pay off," Gaca said.

Gaca was named MIAA Men's Field Athlete of the Week on Monday.

Gaca said listening to assistant track & field coach Paul Markel was an important part of his success on Friday.

"The key to my throw was having Coach Markel there to remind me to stay centered and stable during my windup, along with other minor changes we made on the spot," Gaca said.

Friday was the first indoor meet of the season for Gaca and his teammates.

Hope returns to competition on Friday, February 3 at the Windy City Invitational in Chicago.

"I hope that breaking this record at the first meet of the indoor season will really springboard my motivation and tenacity to go out and keep bettering myself," Gaca said. "I want to break the record again at our next meet and set me up in a good position for conference championships."