Bad Wigins wrote: Discus is the worst of those 3 and should be replaced with something better, like a baseball. I'd like to see who can throw a baseball farthest.
that's not a bad idea. seeing who can throw a football the farthest would also be interesting.
this would increase participation levels from high school athletes who want to try it as a side event.
brownsmith89 wrote:
seeing who can throw a football the farthest would also be interesting.
And a nice lead-in to the javelin itself: Terry Bradshaw and Russ Francis both set HSRs in the jav.
Eastern Europeans had the grenade throw as their lead-in to jav. I suppose they could argue that tossing a grenade was more "useful" than throwing an oblate spheroid.
But in any case, if we're talking greatest high school track and field accomplishment, how about Bob Mathias's win in the 1948 OG decathlon, at the ripe age of 17 (and six weeks after his first decathlon)?
Jim Thorpe competed at the 1912 Stocklhom Olympics in both the penathlon and decathlon as well as two individual events. Talk about a busy schedule!
He wore extra socks in one shoe as it was too big. Competing in crappy clothes and on a crappy track - he scored 8,413 points to capture the decathlon (as well as pentathlon) ... a total unsurpassed for two decades.
Back when mcGuire and Sosa were closing in on the homerun record for a season, USAToday ran a story of what is the greatest sports record in all sports - all levels.
They concluded that Carter's HS shot record was the greatest of all time - all sports - all levels. The reason was the % over the 2nd best mark as well as how long it had lasted
There's a great article about Carter that I'll try to find, it started with the author entering a HS gym, and as he stood at one baseline realized just how impressive that throw was... From where he stood, it would reach within a few feet of the far baseline, 84' away!
Also impressive, it was the last throw of his HS career... At the Golden West Invitational, final throw... Prior PR was I believe 76'. Describes how he asked the officials to give him more time, until the starter's pistol had started a race on the track.
All in all, a pretty amazing feat! Kim Gallagher's 800 in the same league, for sure.
Why do you run in metres and throw in feet. Makes no sense whatsoever
ukathleticscoach wrote:
Why do you run in metres and throw in feet. Makes no sense whatsoever
Because we're Americans, and thus our way is better. Even though the metric system is far superior, we're never going to change. It's the American way.
Stillrunning1 wrote:
All in all, a pretty amazing feat! Kim Gallagher's 800 in the same league, for sure.
How are we have this conversation and no one has said:
um, ever heard of Jim Ryun??
Ryun's HS marks were better than Gallagher's.
And then of course at age 19, he was head and shoulders above Gallagher, McTear, Michael Carter, or anyone else who ever participated in track and field as a junior, setting world records in the mile and 800, and was the # 1 T&F athlete in the world.
Again, as far as an age graded performance, that puts Carter or anyone else to shame.
The thing about Carter's high school shot put it has never been challenged. 70 feet in high school has remained the gold standard year in and year out. 80 feet isn't even considered possible.
Other long standing records had at one time similar. Jim Ryuns 3:54 mile was like that. Bob Beamon's long jump at Mexico City was considered the best record in track in field and the most awesome single performance in all of sports for 25 years. And still has only been beaten by two jumpers in the same competition.
Of all the events I can think only the throws, long jump, and triple jump have the potential for someone to explode and shatter barriers when they hit perfection.
The Insider wrote:
Because we're Americans, and thus our way is better. Even though the metric system is far superior, we're never going to change. It's the American way.
That explains why the OT is all-metric.
There isn't a single American who can, without a measuring device, show you how far 20 feet is any more accurately than they can show you 6 meters. Ask one to pace off one mile and they'll probably stop at around 1 kilometer.
Bad Wigins wrote:
There isn't a single American who can, without a measuring device, show you how far 20 feet is any more accurately than they can show you 6 meters. Ask one to pace off one mile and they'll probably stop at around 1 kilometer.
Excuse me, Americans do *not* "pace off" miles. That's what we have cars (and the cars have odometers) for.
Sheesh.
werq wrote:
Excuse me, Americans do *not* "pace off" miles. That's what we have cars (and the cars have odometers) for.
Sheesh.
Shut up and pace off the mile like I said, you fat, weak Yankee slob.
His mark is one of the most impressive ever in any track and field event. If someone throws 70-72 feet as a prep they are great. His mark is 10%+ better. This would be like a 100m guy in high school running 9.7 or a high jumper goign 7'10"
Tyrannosaurus Rexing wrote:
Stillrunning1 wrote:All in all, a pretty amazing feat! Kim Gallagher's 800 in the same league, for sure.
How are we have this conversation and no one has said:
um, ever heard of Jim Ryun??
Ryun's HS marks were better than Gallagher's.
And then of course at age 19, he was head and shoulders above Gallagher, McTear, Michael Carter, or anyone else who ever participated in track and field as a junior, setting world records in the mile and 800, and was the # 1 T&F athlete in the world.
Again, as far as an age graded performance, that puts Carter or anyone else to shame.
There are a lot of great performances and I used Gallagher's as a example to add some perpective to Carter. I agree with you that what Jim Ryun accomplished was off the charts incredible. There is nothing I can say to take away from what Jim Ryun accomplished, to add a small amount of perpective, it was not uncommon for H.S. athletes to make the Olympic team, in fact, in 1960, most athlete's career was over at age 23.
TrackCoach wrote:
I agree with you that what Jim Ryun accomplished was off the charts incredible.
OK Carter's throw is not going to be beaten BUT why has nobody mentioned Rudy Chapa?? NOBODY will beat his 10k HS record. NO ONE has even come close in 37 years.
Chapa's 10k was the World Junior record for about 15 years. Since then I bet 100 African teenagers have run under 28:32 for 10k.
Incredible and legendary record but doesn't hold up like Carter's shot put.
many ... MANY ... track peeps, who have followed T&F for many years, at all levels, consider Carter's mark to be the best ever ... at any level. That does not diminish other great marks by outstanding athletes
break it up wrote:
I bet 100 African teenagers have run under 28:32 for 10k.
You just answered the question. They are African, NOT of the United States. Chapa and Carter are still the best HS marks ever!!
I heard Carter was not so clean in HS. 81 feet, how far outside the pit was that? Most HS pits end at 60 . Amazing throw !
The only 2 Track and Field records i would ever put up there with Carter is Sotomayor, because that was just disgusting, and the Discus WR which only 2 people have come withing a meter of in 30 years.