Kyle Christopher is playing a waiting game.

The Wright City senior thrower is ranked second in Class 3 in the discus and is a favorite to stand on the podium Saturday in Jefferson City at the state meet.

“He’s just got to throw it,” Wright City Head Coach Sue Wright said. “That’s all there is to it.”

Christopher has worked on mastering his mechanics at practice, but he and his coach know that at this point in the season, practices are more about fine-tuning than making major changes.

Especially for someone of Christopher’s caliber.

He won last week’s sectional meet with a final throw of 158 feet, 1 inch, to beat top-ranked Daniel Lehenbauer of Palmyra.

“The Palmyra guy was throwing 170 in warm-ups, and he watched me throw a 158 and he shut down,” Christopher said. “I think it mentally messed with him.”

Because athletes throw in order of lowest ranking to highest, Christopher was able to pressure Lehenbauer Saturday.

He will have the same opportunity in Jefferson City.

William Bradley-King of Hogan Prep is ranked first in the class with a season-best toss of 181 feet, 7 inches.

Christopher’s best mark is 167 feet, 10 inches, which came in the conference meet May 3.

He has reached 170 feet in practice, but Wright is quick to remind him how much those results matter.

“I laugh when kids come up to me and say they threw a 170 in warm-ups,” Wright said. “You know what? It doesn’t count. I tell him that all the time. Come running to me with your arms out when you win it at 170.”

But Wright couldn’t deny his consistency.

“You can’t take away from the fact that he’s very consistent,” she said. “He’s in the upper 150s and low 160s. He’ll do it.”

Christopher nearly qualified in the shot put, as well.

He finished fifth in the sectional with a mark of 42 feet, 11 inches, but that was OK with Wright.

“It’s nice,” she said, “that he only has to work on the discus and doesn’t have to mess with the shot put.”

So Christopher will wait.

He said he knows he is capable of a state championship, and hopes the best throw of his life is saved for Saturday.

“I’m probably going to have to throw my best,” he said. “I’ll probably have to start the meet off with a 160 because that will give me all-state for sure. And after that I’ll work on getting after it. I think that will push a lot of pressure on him.”