Sad News: Track Official Dies At Cornell Indoor Meet After Throwing Accident

Sad news- I knew him well- great man, great official, the kids loved him because he showed them respect.

Here is the obituary for Mr. Koban:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pressconnects/obituary.aspx?n=douglas-r-koban&pid=173418198&fhid=13278

My condolences to Mr. Koban's family and friends.

75 years old is no longer what I'd call "very old people"...some people are old at 50 and others don't act old at 80+. My parents are 70+ and still play tennis at a high level, regional/national, and they give me a heck of a workout when we hit. The older people I see officiating track meets, most seem entirely capable of handling the jobs assigned.

Douglas Koban was hit by a 35-pound weight during warm-ups at a Cornell indoor meet. He was treated onsite, but died in the hospital the next day. A tragic accident. Our thoughts are with his family.

d2xccoach wrote:

My condolences to Mr. Koban's family and friends.

75 years old is no longer what I'd call "very old people"...some people are old at 50 and others don't act old at 80+. My parents are 70+ and still play tennis at a high level, regional/national, and they give me a heck of a workout when we hit. The older people I see officiating track meets, most seem entirely capable of handling the jobs assigned.

That's nice but recreational tennis is not standing in front of things that can and will kill you.

Try throwing a hammer, discus and javelin at your parents and see how they react.

You are right. These throwing events should not be conducted at the same venue as track events, or if at the same venue then they should be conducted at times dedicated solely for them. Greater safety measures need to be put in place.

nn wrote:

You are right. These throwing events should not be conducted at the same venue as track events, or if at the same venue then they should be conducted at times dedicated solely for them. Greater safety measures need to be put in place.

nn wrote:

You are right. These throwing events should not be conducted at the same venue as track events, or if at the same venue then they should be conducted at times dedicated solely for them. Greater safety measures need to be put in place.

I think this is one if the reasons J Schumacher was glad to get out of Wisconsin for Nikes campus. Half joking and half serious. One outdoor track workout, while the distance boys were at a point in their intervals on the far side, one Of the throwers, I believe discus, had a flop that ended up on the track. Jerry was not pleased with that.

Safety has long been ignored by USATF.

A Safety Officer with industrial experience, who has never been a member of USATF, needs to have ultimate authority.

Too many USATF Associations treat meets as social functions, allowing every member on the infield and outfield.

As a result, USATF Officers, marshalls, and officlals, socialize, hob nob, compare pictures of their grandchildren, and carouse around.

There needs to be a rule that when a USATF Officer, marshall, official, or media person is within one meter of LANE 9, no BS is allowed.

I.E. it's a job on the factory floor or assembly line, whether an event is going on or not.

There should be no large potted plants and obstructions.

TV cables must be taped down.

Only handheld TV cameras on the track and infield (NO tripods).

Handheld TV cameras must have wireless transmitters (like at the IAAF WC and Oly Games).

No FRAT/SORORITY loading up of officlals for events, whether heats, semis, or finals.

I.E. no more having 6 officials at the finish line, 8 watching the LJ/TJ board, 6 overseeing the clerk at the PV, 12 at every point on the runway, etc.

Recall that at IAAF WC and Oly Games only the bare minimum of officials are allowed on the track and field.

Timing centers must be located outside of the outfield.

I.E. NOT allowed on the infield are the timing tables with dozens of Macs and PCs, and timing equipment.

Oh chill out. Life is dangerous, get used to it. Way more people are killed in car accidents driving TO track meets than have ever died AT a track meet. Heck, some percentage of people have heart defects that might cause them to drop dead in the middle of a distance event. Should we just not have track meets?

Wilford Brimley wrote:

Try throwing a hammer, discus and javelin at your parents and see how they react.

Will do sir. I'm on my way...

Lawsuit time

He wasn't a USATF official and this wasn't a USATF event...

I'm guessing that the vast majority of people on this board have never seen the throwing cage at Cornell. It is constructed out of hurricane fence and stands about 20-25 feet high. It is tucked in a corner of Barton Hall off of the main track area. The entrance to the cage is very close to the circle and not out in the landing zone.

While I am sure that the lawyers will find everything that was done right and/or wrong in the lead-up to this TRAGEDY, this facility is way better than the vast majority of weight throw setups that I have seen.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family of the official (and the coaches, athletes, and spectators whose lives have been forever changed by this terrible experience).

[quote]PoisonIvy wrote:

I'm guessing that the vast majority of people on this board have never seen the throwing cage at Cornell. It is constructed out of hurricane fence and stands about 20-25 feet high. It is tucked in a corner of Barton Hall off of the main track area. The entrance to the cage is very close to the circle and not out in the landing zone.

This- my colleagues and I, who have been to many meets at Cornell, are trying to figure out how this could possibly have happened.

Someone wasn't paying attention- the thrower or the official.

It was a mistake- one person is dead and one must feel horrible and will carry this with him for the rest of his life.

Tragic event to a very good person.

Mr. Koban was a great man, I knew him well.

runn wrote:

This- my colleagues and I, who have been to many meets at Cornell, are trying to figure out how this could possibly have happened.

Someone wasn't paying attention- the thrower or the official.

I was at the weight throw when this happened. Maybe a hundred of us saw it. Terrible thing.

The throw was a slight sector foul. Couple feet to the left. Mr. Koban was standing roughly sixty feet from the circle. He was facing the circle/sector. If his back had been turned people would have yelled out "heads up" or "look out" as the throw headed his way. No one did because he apparently was watching the throw.

But he just didn't move or get out of the way. I can't explain it. I guess a momentary lapse of attention on his part. The thrower certainly didn't do anything wrong or out of the ordinary. Sector fouls are part of the event. Especially slight ones.

A couple athletes who'd thrown earlier in the women's weight said that Mr. Koban was nearly hit twice during that event too. For whatever reason it just seems like he wasn't paying attention that day.

PoisonIvy wrote:

I'm guessing that the vast majority of people on this board have never seen the throwing cage at Cornell. It is constructed out of hurricane fence and stands about 20-25 feet high. It is tucked in a corner of Barton Hall off of the main track area. The entrance to the cage is very close to the circle and not out in the landing zone.

While I am sure that the lawyers will find everything that was done right and/or wrong in the lead-up to this TRAGEDY, this facility is way better than the vast majority of weight throw setups that I have seen.

This. I've never seen a safer facility for the weight throw.

Another update from local paper: http://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/local/2014/12/10/cornell-track-field-death/20218737/