British Columbia has undeniably established itself as a powerhouse in the hammer throw. On the first day of the Bell Canadian Track and Field Championships, which also serves as the Olympic Trials, the hammer throw took center stage. Both U20 and Senior athletes stepped into the throwing circle, aiming to become national champions, set personal bests, and for some, punch their ticket to Paris. Let's dive into the details.
U20 Men
Deven Marrero of the Kajaks secured silver with a mark of 57.74m on his first throw in a series of six. At the 2023 Championships, Marrero narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth. Matthew Minchin placed fifth with a mark of 48.01m, and Dominic Mikacevich Warholm finished sixth with a distance of 44.28m.
U20 Women
In a tight battle for gold, Elise Drake of the Kajaks became the national champion with a mark of 51.51m on her second throw in the series. Just a few weeks ago, at the BC School Sports Track and Field Championships, Drake threw 47.11m to place second.
Keerat Dhillon, who just completed her freshman year at the University of Idaho, placed fourth with a mark of 48.82m. Gurleen Mander placed fifth with a mark of 46.03m, while 15-year-old Talia Phangura finished seventh with 40.46m. Lauren Curtis, the 2024 BC School Sports Champion, finished tenth with a mark of 42.84m.
Senior Men
Unsurprisingly, Ethan Katzberg topped the podium. The current world leader and reigning World Champion won by over six meters with a distance of 82.60m, setting a new championship record. Katzberg, ranked number one in the world, is heading to his first Olympic Games. Rowan Hamilton, the 2024 NCAA Champion and three-time NAIA Champion, took silver with a mark of 75.83m. His current world ranking is 15th. Adam Keenan rounded out the BC podium sweep with a mark of 72.89m and is currently ranked 22nd in the world. Jeremiah Nubbe finished fourth with a distance of 70.50m.
Senior Women
Camryn Rogers, part of the historic Canadian sweep of hammer titles at the 2023 World Championships alongside Ethan Katzberg, won yet another national title with a mark of 75.05m. This year, she has thrown 77.76m and is currently ranked number one in the world. Kaila Butler followed in second place with a mark of 66.39m, while Jordana Badley-Castello finished fourth with 61.47m, and Chanell Botsis placed sixth with a distance of 57.60m.
The depth and strength of BC's hammer throwers, from emerging talents to established champions, underscore the province's exceptional talent - way to make BC proud!