Kahanic also set a new world record in the Open Stone (16-pound) throw of 63’ 3.75” eclipsing a mark that had stood for 40 years.
Nick, a 2004 graduate of Falconer Central School, was active in track & field for the Falcons. He placed in the New York State Championships in both the shot put and discus his junior and senior years. Representing Chautauqua Striders, he placed second in the shot at the 2004 USA Junior Olympic National Championships.
Kahanic continued his T & F career at Robert Wesleyan College in Rochester, N. Y., 2004-2007. He was a 4-time National Christian College Athletic Association Champion: 3 times in the shot put and once in the hammer throw. He was named an NCCAA All-American 13 times in the shot, discus and hammer and was a 2-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) shot put All-American.
Nick became involved in Highland Games competition in 2006 and continued until his retirement from the sport in 2022. He was Grand Champion of the Jamestown Regional Highland Games thirteen times. Each annual competition included 9 individual events. During that span he claimed first place 115 times in 118 events. In the 3 events he “lost,” he finished second.
In Highland Games outside of Chautauqua County, Kahanic was 5-times Niagara Region Amateur Champion, 4-times Niagara Region Professional Champion and 3-times New York State Professional Champion.
He claimed 40 professional Highland Games titles from 2014-2022. He was the 2015 North American Pro Caber Champion. In the caber toss, competitors toss a large tapered pole, usually made from a larch tree, and it can be between 16–20 feet tall and weigh 90–150 pounds.
In addition to the previously mentioned World Record in the Open Stone throw, Nick also set a North American record (50’1”) in the Braemer throw, an event in which the
22-pound stone must be tossed from a standing position.
Nick and his friend Aaron Lee are the co-founders of AJ Strong, a charity they established in 2018 following the unexpected passing of Aaron’s son. The purpose of the charity is to assist child advocacy programs and families in need. To date they have raised over $40,000 to help those in need.
Kahanic works for Pepsi and is a resident of Falconer.
