IRON WOOD THROWS CLASSIC: Road to Olympic Trials winds through Rathdrum

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

RATHDRUM — Throwers with Olympic dreams took the spotlight at the Iron Wood Throws Center in Rathdrum as the road to this year’s games winds toward the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., starting June 21.

For Payton Otterdahl, who was 10th in the 2021 Games in the men’s shot put, it was a chance to fine tune some things.

“I was just looking to put up some decent marks,” said Otterdahl, who trains out of Lincoln, Neb., and is sponsored by the Iron Wood Throws Club in Rathdrum. “We’ve still got a few weeks until the trials, but it’s the last shot put meet I’ll do before then because there just aren't many more opportunities.”

On Saturday, Otterdahl won the men’s shot with a throw of 23.38 meters (73 feet, 5 ¼ inches) during the second day of the center’s ninth throws meet, which included the men’s and women’s hammer throw, shot put, discus and javelin.

“I had a lot more consistency today,” said Otterdahl, who prevailed in a field of eight in the men's shot put. “I’ve been over 22 meters in each meet I’ve done this season, so I was glad I was able to have three marked throws there today. It was good, but I don’t feel like I’ve had that big throw yet. So I’m kind of still waiting on that.”

Otterdahl also won last year’s meet in Rathdrum with a throw of 71-7 ½.

“I just love coming here because it’s a throwers meet and there’s more throwers here than a normal meet,” Otterdahl said. “We don’t usually get the spotlight too often in our sport, so to come here is great. They put on a great meet and I never want to miss this one.”

Otterdahl got connected with Iron Wood after a phone call from Iron Wood Throws Center Director T.J. Crater.

“T.J. reached out to me and asked if I wanted to represent their club,” Otterdahl said. “I was honored to know that they’ve had a lot of really good throwers come through here since they started. Just to be a part of that group is awesome.”

Otterdahl added that he’ll shift his focus to his footwork in the coming weeks in an effort to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris on Aug. 1-11.

“I haven’t done a lot of speed work yet, so now’s the time to get quicker,” Otterdahl said. “I need to be able to move a little better in the ring.”

Justin Stafford, a 2019 UCLA graduate who now trains in Manhattan, Kan., toured the Throws Center last summer, with the idea of returning this year to compete.

On Saturday, Stafford won the men’s hammer throw with a mark of 249 feet.

“It was definitely a breakthrough day,” said Stafford, a second-team All-American as a senior. “I had a 9-foot PR over the last two years, which shows the work I’ve been putting in is paying off. It’s definitely a step in the right direction.”

Brock Eager, a graduate of Washington State who was sixth in the Olympic Trials in 2021 in the men’s hammer throw, was second out of 11 with a mark of 245 feet, 6 inches.

“It was a decent day,” said Eager, who competed at Tahoma High in Maple Valley, Wash. “It wasn’t anything too crazy, but I’ve been pretty consistent with a lot of 74 and 75s, so that’s a really good sign. I don’t think I’ve hit the one yet, but all that matters is who hits that one the day of the trials.”

Eager, a two-time Pac-12 champion in the hammer throw, now resides in Hayden with his wife, Chrisshnay.

“I knew Iron Wood was here and I was moving close by,” Eager said. “So I asked if I could come out here and train. And everything has worked out great since. They’ve got an amazing weight room and plenty of room. There’s no track athletes running around getting in your way and it’s specifically designed for throwers. It’s amazing to be able to train here.”

Other winners Saturday included Jessica Ramsey (women’s shot put), Joe Brown (men’s discus), Rachel Tanczos (women’s hammer throw), Maggie Malone-Hardin (women’s javelin), Curtis Thompson (men’s javelin) and Laulauga Tausaga-Collins (women’s discus).

A total of 80 throwers (49 men, 31 women) competed in Saturday's eight events.

MEN’S SHOT PUT (12 pounds) — 1, Payton Otterdahl, 22.38 meters (73 feet, 5 ¼ inches). 2, Roger Steen, 21.43 meters (70-3 ¾). 3, Tripp Piperi, 20.64 meters (67-8 ¾).

MEN’S HAMMER THROW (16 pounds) — 1, Justin Stafford, 75.90 meters (249 feet). 2, Brock Eager, 74.83 meters (245-6). 3, Tanner Berg, 71.16 meters (233-5).

MEN’S DISCUS (1.6 kg)  — 1, Joe Brown, 63.37 meters (207-11). 2. Brian Williams, 63.17 meters (207-3). 3, Jordan Roach, 61.81 meters (202-9). 

MEN’S JAVELIN (800 g) — 1, Curtis Thompson, 81.48 meters (267-4). 2, Sindri Gudmonsson, 78.09 meters (256-2). 3, Capers Williamson, 76.37 meters (250-6).

WOMEN’S SHOT PUT (4 kg) — 1, Jessica Ramsey, 18.51 meters (60-8 ¾). 2, Jessica Woodard, 17.94 meters (58-10 ¼). 3, Mine De Klerk, 17.71 meters (58-1 ¼).

WOMEN’S HAMMER THROW (4 kg) — 1, Rachel Tanczos, 74.82 meters (245-5). 2, Sade Olatoye, 71.88 meters (235-10). 3, Jillian Shippee, 71.79 meters (235-6).

WOMEN’S JAVELIN — 1, Maggie Malone-Hardin, 65.00 meters (213-3). 2, Avione Allgood, 57.54 meters (188-9). 3, Ariana Ince, 56.25 meters (184-6).

WOMEN’S DISCUS — 1, Laulauga Tausaga-Collins, 60.93 meters (199-11). 2, Elena Bruckner, 60.18 meters (197-5). 3, Kaia Harris, 56.60 meters (185-8).

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press Justin Stafford, a 2019 UCLA graduate, makes an attempt during the men's hammer throw at the Iron Wood Throws Classic in Rathdrum on Saturday.
  

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press Brock Eager, who currently resides in Hayden, prepares to release an attempt during the men's hammer throw at the Iron Wood Throws Training Center in Rathdrum. Eager, who was sixth at the 2021 Olympic Trials in Eugene, was second in Saturday's meet.