History was made on Wednesday during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials. For the first time, the hammer throw took place on Hayward Field as opposed to tucked away in the back field.
Hammer throw is considered too dangerous to be held on the main field with other events. In fact, most high schools don’t even allow it. Because of this, it often gets overlooked.
To make this event possible, former Olympian Lance Deal, who won the silver medal in the 1996 Olympics, helped oversee the building of a temporary hammer cage.
“I was nervous. The guys kept hitting it,” said Deal, laughing. “What a great way to spend an off day at the Olympic trials…. It was the best atmosphere that I have ever been around.”
The athletes also appreciated competing at Hayward.
“We don’t get to feel that magic out in the back field,” Amber Campbell said. “So to be able to compete in the center at Hayward in the middle of the day with an amazing crowd, there’s nothing like it.”
Campbell eventually went on to win the women’s hammer final, but the competition was intense. On her fourth throw, Campbell broke her own meet record (235 feet, 7 inches) with a distance of 236-3. If that wasn’t exciting enough, the eventual second-place finisher, Gwen Berry, broke the meet record again by an inch. Deanna Price threw directly after her and broke it with a throw of 239-9. On Campbell’s final throw, she reclaimed the record at 242-10.
“I knew after that fifth throw that I was on the team, so I was just like, ‘Just have some fun and see what happens,’” Campbell said. “I
Former Oregon standout Britney Henry placed tenth overall, not enough to qualify for the finals, so she finished after three throws. Her furthest throw was 217-6, only two inches away from ninth place, which would have allowed her to participate in the finals.
“It was close, yeah, but close only counts in horseshoes and grenades,” said Henry.
At 31-years-old, Henry is thinking about retiring. She said, in tears, that she wasn’t sure yet, but retirement is in her near future.
“I love the hammer,” Henry said. “I love it so much, but some point in time, I need to move on.”
As for the men, none of the athletes going into the meet had met the Olympic qualifying standard. They had each hoped to reach 252 feet 6 inches at the event.
But none of them hit the mark. The winner, Rudy Winkler, got close. His furthest throw of 251-10 was on his fourth attempt, but he wasn’t able to improve from there. Winkler has hit the mark before, but it wasn’t in an official competition.
“I still feel like I have more. I think I can throw further,” Winkler said. “I was really hoping to get the Olympic standard so I don’t have worry about getting an invitation.”
But, Winkler has a good chance of receiving an invitation. Only 23 athletes have actually have the standard, and more than that will participate in the Olympic games.
“A lot of people are getting invitations, and I think I’m in that group,” said Winkler.
Finishing in second was Kibwe Johnson with a throw of 246-5. Behind him was Conor McCullough, throwing 243-4 on his first throw.
Oregon’s Greg Skipper, who just finished his senior season with the Ducks, placed 12th overall with a throw of 223-4. He fouled his final two attempts, and was unable to improve on his opening mark. But he enjoyed competing wearing his Oregon jersey on Hayward, something he never got the chance to do before.
“It was a good feeling to put on the jersey one more time,” Skipper said.
Follow Hannah Bonnie on Twitter @hbonnie03