George loves to throw.
Eight years ago,
George Mathews bowed out of USATF masters politics (and chairmanship of the national committee), but he’ll never quit throwing. He’s a hammer specialist. His latest ball-and-chain foray was in Richmond, British Columbia. Notes a
local newspaper story: “The festival also attracted many top-level masters athletes, including
Marie-Josee Le Jour from the University of Toronto club. She won the women’s discus event with a throw of 44.91 metres. And veteran U.S. thrower George Mathews, 71, threw an impressive 46.71 metres (153-3) in the men’s hammer throw event.” The facility is called first-rate: “This is one of a few hammer cages nationally that meet the stringent requirements of the IAAF for international-calibre meets, so we are very excited to be able to host future meets that will attract a top level of competition,” said one organizer.
Here’s the story for posterity:
Though it can’t be measured, pride is perhaps the greatest of motivators.
So it was for a group of throwers, young and old, that gathered at Minoru Park Saturday for the inaugural Richmond Kajaks Throws Festival.
With the competitive season complete for most, results were by and large irrelevant. But not for the athletes, several of whom set season bests amidst a fun and relaxed environment.
An afternoon meet and a twilight meet—featuring most of the same participants in shot put, discus, hammer throw and javelin—and a by-donation barbecue supporting the Richmond Food Bank was a labour of love by organizers including longtime coach Richard Collier.
It was in recognition of Collier’s ongoing coaching efforts and his exhaustive, dedicated work in establishing the new throws facility—built to International Association of Athletics Federations specifications—that the evening event was called the Richard Collier Twilight Meet.
“The initial reason for holding this event, was to present our new throwing facility to the track and field community. We want people to come and enjoy the facility and appreciate how fabulous it is,” said Shari Rogers, who along with Jacqueline Wennes and Collier
https://sildenafilhealth.com/side-effects/
spent months preparing the festival. “Naming the evening meet after Richard recognizes his coaching efforts.”
“This is one of a few hammer cages nationally that meet the stringent requirements of the IAAF for international-calibre meets, so we are very excited to be able to host future meets that will attract a top level of competition,” said Wennes.
Rogers said the organizing committee was proud of the way the event turned out.
“It was a wonderful wrap up to the season,” she said, noting that some athletes travelled from as far as Ontario to participate.
Chanell Botsis, a Grade 11 Kajaks’ thrower and one of Canada’s most promising young hammer throwers, established a personal best throw of 60.34 metres at the weekend meet. The figure is only six centimetres shy of the national youth record of 60.40 metres held by fellow Kajak Asianna Covington.
Botsis was particularly pleased to achieve the feat at her new home hammer throw cage, and with coach Collier looking on.
Kajaks teammate Camryn Rogers, 15, also had a solid meet earning top marks in the discus—26.95 metres, 12.90 metres in the shot put and 53.44 metres in the hammer throw.
Other young athletes who also showed promise included B.C.’s Lindsey Frederiksen, who topped the field in the 14-15 girls’ hammer throw with a best 61.40 metres, and Kajak Valerie Wideski, who attained a best 28.14 metres in the discus throw during the afternoon meet. Nina Schultz, 16, of the New West Spartans won the women’s 16-17 discus throw at 11.34 metres, while University of Toronto club member Cyerra Cassell threw 48.17 metres in the girls’ hammer throw event and John Reston, from the same club, threw 11.91 metres in the boys’ shot put event.
The festival also attracted many top-level masters athletes, including Marie-Josee Le Jour from the University of Toronto club. She won the women’s discus event with a throw of 44.91 metres. And veteran U.S. thrower George Mathews, 71, threw an impressive 46.71 metres in the men’s hammer throw event.
September 14, 2014
2 Responses
“Ball and Chain” foray….
Ken, why isn’t the event you participate in called “leaping over mounds of dirt”? Because they are hurdles, not mounds of dirt….the hammer ball is attached to a metal handle with a thin steel wire, not a “chain”.
And if your response might be, “well, that is how people used to call it”, or “it has always been described that way”….that unfortunately reminds me of the Washington professional football team name issue.
U are right, Peter. My apologies. I fell into cliche. But it was worth it to hear your dissection. Next up: thinclads, timber toppers and broad jumpers!
Leave a Reply