Registration open for 2021 SPIRE National Throws Festival

With the cancellation of both the USATF Junior Championships and New Balance Nationals this summer, there is a lack of championship options for youth hammer throwers across the country. Former Olympic hammer throw finalist Kibwé Johnson has launched a new initiative aiming to fill the gap: the SPIRE National Throws Festival. Johnson joined the SPIRE Institute staff at the start of the year as head throwing coach and director of business development after five seasons at the IMG Academy and he’s taken on the throws festival as one of his first big projects.

Taking place from June 17th to 20th at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio, the new competition will feature all four throwing events across four divisions of competition: junior, high school, freshman, and middle school. Registration opened this week with opportunities to compete in various and already several top high school throwers have announced they will be competing.