Shot put, a modern day take on the Highland Games in Scotland, tracing back to the 19th century, is a field event that entails the throwing of a spherical weighted ball with one hand as far away as possible from a seven-foot circle.
Upon calling the athletes name, they have 60 seconds to rest the shot close to their neck and throw the ball from above the height of their shoulder, trying to land the weight in the legal sector of the putting area.
In order for the throw to be measured, the participant can not touch the top of the toe board or leave the circle before the ball lands. The shot can also not drop below the shoulder during the throw and they must exit from the back of the circle when done. Fouls will be given to any participant who fails to abide by these rules.
A winner is declared based on who throws their weight the farthest, with each participant getting multiple chances at achieving their best distance.
This event first came to WHS in 1922 during the first ever year of track and field. Since then, the event has grown to about 25 athletes participating between this spring and winter season.
One of the coaches of shot put, discus and javelin, Erik Anderson, explained, “We have an incredible group of athletes on the track seemingly every year, so it’s important for the throwers to put points on the board at county and state meets in order for us to continue to win those types of team titles.”
Anderson first started as a volunteer coach for Westfield in 2013. He first got into the throwing events when he was a Blue Devil himself. After college, a friend’s younger brother asked him for some help with discus, and that developed his love for coaching. He then attended a WHS meet as a spectator and asked the head coach of track and field, Chris Tafelski, if they wanted an extra hand in the throws. Eleven years later, he is still coaching a very successful team.
One of these successful team members, senior Adison Marshall explained, “I got into shot put because I thought it would be cool to learn how to throw the nine pound shot as far as I could. I was also really interested in the weight lifting aspect that comes with the sport. Throwing has given me a second family with the whole team, but it’s also allowed me to use it as a way to get rid of some of my stress and frustrations. It’s also given me an opportunity to compete with/against some talented people.”
As more people look to join each year, the program welcomes new opportunities and future successes that will come each and every season.
