Spectator hit and killed by weight throw at Colorado Springs track meet

Just terrible to read about

Terrible, terrible news.

Damn! So much wrong with this:

First, this is tragic! Hands down the worst thing that can possibly happened, happened.

Second, I posted earlier asking for insight, and a Karen got my post deleted, for, "no reason given" so, one of the BroHo's...

Third, it was a HS meet, not college, the UCCS meet was Saturday. Not many HS throwers huck the hammer, this had to be weight throw, which was on the schedule. If it was a hammer, well, that will be a problem.

What I have been told by a couple of the coaches in attendance, was the facility was very crowded and the meet was not well run. That is second hand knowledge, so, if anyone that was there can chime in, please do.

Probably a 35# weight, not a hammer.

This is awful. Wasn't there a protective net, or something like it, set up?

My thought as well, but the weight in HS is 25# implement.

It has been a couple years since I was last in that facility, however, at that time, there was a net based throwing cage setup at that time. I cannot imagine why there still would not be now, as they throw discus as well, and fouls need stopping.

It is a high school meet, not a UCCS meet. They only used the UCCS facility. The event in question was the weight through, not a hammer (that is an outdoors only event) as wrongly reported by the news. There is a regular throwing cage with doors guarding the sectors and a wall net that separates the bleachers from the throwing area as well as a short wall. It was a horribly tragic event for all involved, the athletes, families, spectators and coaches.

Protective screens and barriers were up. Some how the implement got past or over them. I went to meet there just before Christmas and it is a very packed venue. There are stands that face the track and the spectators have their backs to the throw area.

Thanks for that. It makes sense it was weight. Here is the thing. I have been in that facility many time, for weight and discus, and, yet, I have never seen the net not catch an out of bounds implement.

Any ideas what may have went wrong? Was it just a freak accident?

I was there as a registered thrower. I was there to throw shot and was getting ready to start warming up when it happened. I believe there wasn't enough netting for the bleachers to be practically against them with the crowd facing away from where people are throwing heavy metal.

when I had arrived I had in fact gone to the bleachers and stood in front of them to watch the other throwers and saw a weight come flying towards us, it had stopped near the netting and not hit anyone but I heard one of the people out on the field marking say to the people sitting on the top row of the bleachers that if it had gone further they would have died. there was barely any seating so it wasn't like a lot of the elderly people that where sitting there could move so they stayed there. I was standing with my dad and my sister and me and my dad had both made a effort to stay alert sence the first weight mishap. then while I was waiting I realized I needed to start warming up soon so I decided t0 go to the bathroom first and as soon as I got two feet away from where I had been standing, which was right in front of the victim I head yelling and I turned and watched the weight fly OVER the net and into the bleachers, I had thought it had hit my sister from how close it was. I heard the sound of impact and people yelling and pushing people and I got pushed from my dad. I knew that if it was in the head dor spine the victim was probably dead and I was right. there had been a doctor in the crowd who jumped d into action and her and other bystanders started CPR and trying o save him. sadly we are all sure the man died on impact due to the trauma that was visible. after 8 minuets peremedics showed up and 15-20 after impact the meet got canceled and everyone got evacuated.

Thanks for sharing your testimony of the situation. That is absolutely awful and heartbreaking for their family and our sport as a whole.

it is, my family spoke with the boy who threw it and he was terrible and I hope his family, him, anyone around, and the family of the victim are able to heal from this traumatic event

Thanks for the clarity you bring to this. I hope you and the athlete who threw the implement understand this is not your fault in any way.

appreciate you letting us know the situation

very sorry for the trauma of everyone there, especially the victim and their family obviously

just a tragic event, one that many people will likely think back to and wonder if they could have helped prevent it and possibly blame themselves

long term emotional pain for so many

life and the loss of it can be so cruel

My question as a long-time former throws coach was "how far away was that seating?" Obviously not nearly enough given that it was within the line of fire. Given that very good HS boys weight throwers will throw 70-80 ft, no stand in direct line of fire should be within 100 feet of the front of the ring.

I recall when the hammer was thrown at Nike Beaverton for the NCs or USAs I can't remember exactly, it was too close to the fans. Just one bad throw and some one would have died. Simple high school physics was not employed by Nike.

Terribly tragic.

Yes, seems like mismanagement of the meet to have seating so close to the throws area, but I totally understand the temptation to squeeze as many spectators in as possible. These HS indoor meets have become pretty popular in Colorado and parents want to spectate. Unfortunately, most indoor tracks aren't designed for a ton of spectators.