Poll: Should M50, M55 groups change superweight to 44 pounds?
Jerry Bookin-Weiner, USATF masters throws coordinator, asks in the June issue of National Masters News whether the weight of the superweight be changed from 56 pounds to 20 kilograms (44 pounds) in the M50 and M55 age groups. He notes that this “uniquely American event” goes against the usual practice of lighter implements when you turn 50. (Currently, 44-pound superweights kick in starting at age 60. The event drops to 35-pounders at 70 and 25-pounders at 80.) So he wrote in his “Throwers Circle” column: “2015 is a ‘rules year’ within USATF,” and called for thoughts “pro and con or in between” on changing the M50 and M55 superweight to 44 pounds. He can be contacted at throwsguy@gmail.com. You also can post a comment here and take our poll. Here’s an M45 guy throwing a 56-pound weight.
5 Responses
Or the reverse: keep this, but all other weights up…
They throw it in Australia, England, Austria, and Hungary, too
There’s a European Throws Championship that includes the superweight throw at 56lb for all age groups:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_srMrNhLFQ
I’m 51 and looking to purchase a superweight for the upcoming indoor season. My only preference is….settle on a figure (56lb or 44lb) before I buy!
I am well aware of the competitions that are held in other countries with the 56# weight (and other heavier implements as well). However, the distinction I was making was that only in the US are these official national championships under the auspices of the national governing body (USATF). We have superweight championships both indoors (as part of the indoor nationals) and outdoors (as part of the throws championships). The competitions elsewhere are (as far as I know) unofficial events organized by and for throwers and therefore without any need to have implements defined by the national governing body’s rules.
Given that the 56# Weight is only for the few, the challenged, the gluttons for punishment.
Change the weight to 44# It only makes sense. As we get older stuff tends to break, bend and warp. At least with a lighter implement it may extend the throwing lives of some of us.
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