Youth hammer throw reaches historic levels in 2017
At the end of every season HS Hammer.com takes some time to look back and do a statistical analysis of the year. Over the next few weeks we will recap the records, performance level, and geographic distribution of performances in 2017. To start off with, we will take a look at the general depth of hammer throwing across the country this season.
Bob Gourley’s national list ranks all boys over 150 feet and girls over 120 feet. This year the list included 145 boys and 140 girls for a total of 285 throwers. That represents a 9% increase on last season and a new all-time high.
When we dive deeper and look at the growth among the top level of throwers, we see a slight uptick in number of boys at the higher segments in 2017 when compared to 2016 and the average over the seven seasons. However 2013 still remains one of the strongest and deepest years on record.
On the girl’s side, however, the results in 2017 make it without question the strongest year in history. At all but one segment 2017 produced more throwers than ever before, including a 30% increase in throwers over 160 feet. Below are the complete numbers across all segments, as well as a look at results over the past few seasons.
| Boys | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | 230′ | 220′ | 210′ | 200′ | 190′ |
| 2017 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 20 | 30 |
| 2016 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 18 | 27 |
| 2015 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 20 | 30 |
| 2014 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 21 | 30 |
| 2013 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 22 | 35 |
| 2012 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 21 |
| 2011 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 23 |
| Average | 2.7 | 4.7 | 10.1 | 17.9 | 28.0 |
| Girls | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | 190′ | 180′ | 170′ | 160′ | 150′ |
| 2017 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 27 | 38 |
| 2016 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 21 | 38 |
| 2015 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 18 | 28 |
| 2014 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 19 | 34 |
| 2013 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 17 | 25 |
| 2012 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 25 |
| 2011 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 24 |
| Average | 1.7 | 4.1 | 9.7 | 17.9 | 30.3 |
