Thrower worries field being left out

Canada has men's, women's world champs, but hammer is being left out of newer competitions

- KERRY GILLESPIE

Camryn Rogers won the women's hammer throw at the Canadian Olympic trials for track and field Wednesday in Montreal. Rogers had a best throw of 75.05 metres.

The Canadian track and field trials for the Paris Olympics and Paralympics opened in Montreal with world champion hammer throwers Camryn Rogers and Ethan Katzberg as the stars of a show that included a DJ, pyrotechnic lights and spectators close to the throwing cage to take everything in.

This kind of treatment, on a larger and more global scale, is what athletes say throw events need at more track and field meets, especially at a time when the field disciplines are being left out of new big-money ventures.

Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track series, slated to start in 2025, promises the largest cash prizes in the sport — $100,000 (U.S.) for a win down to $10,000 for eighth place. But only for runners.

Alexis Ohanian, Reddit cofounder and the spouse of Serena Williams, has announced a women’s only meet for September, the 776 Invitational, which also has a large prize purse. Again, it is only for runners, with no throwing or jumping events included.

Hammer thrower Jillian Weir welcomes the high-level competition and public attention these events will bring. But she’s concerned that half the sport of track and field is being left out, and people are dismissing field events as too hard to hold and not able to draw fans without trying to be innovative.