Vaulters make a pilgrimage to Reno every January. Now a similar event is planned for throwers.This January, weightfolk are invited to descend on the Anaheim Convention Center (near Disneyland) for the first annual National Throws Summit. “USATF-sanctioned competitions will be held in the shot put and weight throw in the following divisions: High School, College, Open and Masters,” organizers say. The idea comes from Rich Benoy, a former national-class hurdler. “Our model has been the annual National Pole Vault Summit in Reno that has done so much to enhance the expertise of coaches and develop men and women vaulters over the past 11 years,” Rich says. “But there is not another event group more in need of development support than the throws.” My reaction? Heads up!

Here’s the press release:

VS ATHLETICS HOSTS 1ST ANNUAL NATIONAL THROWS SUMMIT
Oct. 13, 2008
ANAHEIM, CA–The first National Throws Summit will be held at the cavernous Anaheim Convention Center on January 3-4, 2009. The Summit is a joint venture between VS Athletics and Disney Sports Attractions and the registration packages for coaches and athletes include a “Park Hopper Ticket” for the Disney theme parks.
The mission of the Throws Summit is to promote the development of the throwing events–shot put, discus, javelin and hammer/weight–from the novice to the elite levels. The Summit will seek to do that with a 2-tract curriculum on Saturday: a clinic for coaches and athlete practice sessions, both taught by some of America’s leading throws gurus and Olympic level throwers. Sunday’s program will include USATF-sanctioned indoor men’s and women’s competitions in the shot put. Since its latest renovation in 2000, the Anaheim Convention Center has stood as the largest and most modern facility of its kind West of New York City. Its Hall-B that will host the athlete practice sessions is more than 147,000 square feet and its lobby reception area will host an EXPO with the latest in throwing implements, shoes, and training equipment.
The idea for a Throws Summit is the brainchild of VS Athletics National Sales Manager, Rich Benoy, who ranked among America’s top ten 110m hurdlers for almost a decade. “Our model has been the annual National Pole Vault Summit in Reno that has done so much to enhance the expertise of coaches and develop men and women vaulters over the past 11-years, says Rich. But there is not another event group more in need of development support than the throws.”
“This is a tremendous opportunity for us to make a difference at every level of our sport in four events that historically have struggled to attract athletes, connect athletes with coaches, and share technical and training information,” says VS Athletics CEO, Billy Smith. It’s also important for our sport to have a national forum for enhancing the safety of training for, and competing in, these inherently dangerous events through an ongoing program of coach/athlete education. Our goal is for the Throws Summit to become a “Must Do” annual event for America’s throws athletes and coaches.”
Special events planned in conjunction with the National Throws Summit include a Disney Park parade for Summit participants and America’s top throwers returning from Beijing, and an elite shot put competition followed by a coaches/elite athletes’ reception at the ESPN Zone. On-line registration is available at www.nationalthrowssummit.com.
“We are excited about hosting a signature inaugural event, says Throws Summit Director, Skip Stolley–who is also executive director of the VS Athletics Track Club. Our keynote speakers this year are University of Georgia throws coach, Don Babbitt, former Russian National Throws Coach and Olympic champion Dr. Anatoly Bondarchuk, four-time Olympian and former world record holder Mac Wilkins, and one of Southern California’s premier throws coaches, Tony Ciarelli. Our instructors include Stephanie Brown-Trafton, Larry Judge, Hank Kraychir, Romona Pagel, Karin Smith, and Jason & Lieja Tunks. We think that our Disney partnership will make the Throws Summit an attractive annual mid-Winter, pre-season activity for coaches, throwers, and their family members.”
Contact:
Skip Stolley
Director, 2009 National Throws Summit
Tel (310) 453-7655 Fax (310) 829-6926
Email sstolley@aol.com Website www.nationalthrowssummit.com