Tragic Incident: Spectator Killed by Stray Hammer at Colorado Youth Track and Field Meet

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A tragic incident occurred at a youth track and field meet in Colorado, where a spectator was killed by a stray hammer throw. The event took place on the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) campus on Sunday morning around 9:30 a.m. During the hammer throw event, the hammer, which is a heavy ball on a chain, cleared the certified barriers and struck a spectator in the stands. The victim, who was the father of a competitor from the Colorado United Track Club, died at the scene. He had reportedly tried to shield his wife and son from the ball.

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The hammer used in the event weighs 16 pounds (7 kilograms) for men and 9 pounds (4 kilograms) for women in adult competitions. Such fatal accidents at track and field events are rare but not unprecedented. Similar incidents include a hammer killing a student at Wheaton College in Illinois in 2017 and a shot put ball striking and killing an officiant during practice at the U.S. track and field championships in Los Angeles in 2005.