IRON WOOD THROWS CLASSIC: Records just a throw away in Rathdrum

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

Last August, with a limited crowd in attendance, a new American record was notched in the women’s discus at the Iron Wood Throws Center in Rathdrum.

As for what happens in this year’s Iron Wood Throws Classic, we’ll just have to wait and see.

The seventh annual event gets going on Friday at 12:30 p.m., with 35 to 40 competitors competing in the shot put, discus and hammer throw.

Traditionally, the event has brought the top high school athletes to the area, but no high school athletes will compete due to the coronavirus pandemic for the second straight year.

“We’ve known for a while that we weren’t going to be able to get the kids here,” throws guru and event organizer Bart Templeman said. “The parents probably wouldn’t feel comfortable having them here, and we understand that. But maybe next year we’ll have them again.”

Instead, competitors will be post-collegiate athletes.

Throwers can qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials from the meet, with separate events on Friday and Saturday.

Men’s qualifying standards are: shot put (67 feet, 9 inches, or 20.65 meters); discus (203 feet, 5 inches or 62 meters); hammer (236 feet, 3 inches or 72 meters) and 246 feet, 1 inch (75 meters) in the javelin.

Women’s standards are: 58 feet, 1 inch (58 meters) in the shot put; 223 feet, 1 inch (68 meters) in the hammer; 190 feet, 3 inches (58 meters) in the discus and 177 feet, 2 inches (54 meters) in the javelin.

“I don’t know that we’ve got anyone that’s right at or has qualified for the trials,” Templeman said. “The bad thing is that the USATF (United States Track and Field) is holding an event (Chula Vista Throws Festival) the same weekend, so many of the folks that have came here are going to compete in San Diego this weekend.”

Mason Finley, who finished 11th in the men’s discus in the 2016 Rio Games, is among the competitors scheduled to compete this weekend.

Winners receive $500, with $300 for second and $100 for third-place.

“We’re putting out quite a bit of money, and not many other events pay,” Templeman said. “It’s not an immense amount of money, but it’s better than a poke in the eye.”

At last year’s event, Valarie Allman set the U.S. record of 230 feet, 1 inch (70.15 meters) in August, with a limited amount of spectators allowed to watch.

“When we set a national record last year, nobody thought that would happen,” Templeman said. “I think the weather is supposed to be good for us. If it is, hopefully somebody gets a hold of one and does something.”

There is no cost to attend the event either day.