COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — An errant weight thrown by a competitor struck and killed a spectator at a youth track and field meet in Colorado, according to officials at the university where the competition was held.
The hammer — a heavy ball on a chain — in the hammer throw event cleared certified barriers before striking the man Sunday morning at the University of Colorado’s Colorado Springs campus, according to a university statement.
Firefighters pronounced the man dead at the scene. He apparently had tried to shield his wife and son from the ball, KRDO-TV reported.
He was the father of a competitor for the Colorado United Track Club that hosted the event for high school-age athletes from around the state, according to the station.
Authorities also did not identify the athlete who threw the hammer.
“We are heartbroken at this horrible accident and are focused on supporting all involved,” campus Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet said in a statement.
The weight used in the hammer throw event weighs 16 pounds for men and 9 pounds for women in adult competition, according to World Athletics, the international track and field governing body.
Fatal accidents at track and field competitions are rare. A hammer killed a student at a college track and field meet at Wheaton College in Illinois in 2017.
A shot put struck and killed an officiant during practice at the U.S. track and field championships in Los Angeles in 2005.
