The USA Track & Field Foundation, in coordination with the Harold Connolly Youth Hammer Throw Fund, awarded 22 youth hammer throwers with training grants for the 2014 season today.
A record 11 boys and 11 girls have been named among this year’s recipients. The atheltes represent a broad spectrum of the top high school hammer throwers in the country, coming from nine different states. This year’s grant winners included some of the top stars from the 2014 season including US junior champion and national high school leader Haley Showalter and New Balance Outdoor Nationals second and third place finishers Colin Minor and Adam Kelly. Showalter recently competed at the World Junior Championships representing Team USA for the first time. The other winners also boast impressive resumes, as do many of those who did not receive a grant as the number of applications reached an all-time high.

The USATF Foundation helps support the Youth Hammer Throw Grants.
To be considered, athletes must go through a vigorous application process that started after the 2013 season. The application included biographical information, training history, competitive statistical data, a brief essay describing his/her hammer throwing goals and a letter of support from the applicant’s coach and parent. All applicants must be born after January 1, 1996. Due to administrative delays the winners were only announced this summer.
Grant funds may only be used for specific hammer throw training and competition purposes. These grants are made possible through the support of the USATF Foundation and individual donors. Former Olympic gold medalist Harold Connolly began issuing grants in 2005 and during the last nine seasons, more than $39,000 have been awarded to 43 boys and 43 girls. The USATF Foundation began supporting the project before the 2012 season, allowing the project to both continue and expand in the wake of Connolly’s untimely death in 2010. For more information, please visit www.HammerThrow.org.
Youth Boys
Name Age School City, State Personal Best
Gabriel Arcaro 18 Burlington, MA 209-08
Jacob Beene 18 Gilbert, AZ 220-00
Brock Eager 18 Tahoma, Covington, WA 231-00
James Eblen 17 Centrerville, OH 192-11
Connor Fugere 17 Woonsocket, RI 208-05
Adam Kelly 17 Barrington, RI 223-05
Maxfield Lydum 18 Central, Independence, OR 207-00
Colin Minor 18 South Brunswick, Southport, NC 232-04
Sean Ryan 17 Babylon, NY 218-08
Eric Sheng 17 Syosset, NY 213-02
Charles Whitener 17 North Paulding, Dallas, GA 187-02
Youth Girls
Name Age School City, State Personal Best
Alexandrea Amazan 16 New Rochelle, NY 113-00
Sochima Bishop 16 New Rochelle, NY 137-09
Monae Cooper 16 New Rochelle, NY 159-07
Gabrielle Figueroa 18 Austintown Fitch, Youngstown, OH 180-01
Alva Hicks 17 Classical, Providence, RI 172-01
Jessica Jeffrey 17 New Rochelle, NY 135-04
Cheyanne Nalle 18 Woonsocket, RI 149-07
Riley Scocco 16 Shorewood Christian, Seattle, WA 138-02
Haley Showalter 17 Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, CO 193-04
Kelli Thomas 18 Luella, Locust Grove, GA 175-02
Andrea Vahoua 18 Pope, Marietta, GA 165-01