Weight Throw

The weight throw currently serves as an indoor substitute for the hammer throw. It is a sanctioned, championship, and record event for both USATF and NCAA. An increasing number of countries are including the event in their indoor championships. The weight weighs #35 (15.88kg) for men and #20 (9.08kg) for women. Boys throw a #25 (11.34kg) weight in high school.

#56 weight throw (superweight, or heavy weight throw)

The #56 weight was an Olympic event until 1920. It was contested at the AAU(USA) national championships until 1966, when it was dropped from the program, but it has been contested as a national championship event at a separate meet. USATF recognizes and certifies the #56 weight throw American record, and the rules provide for a separate national championship.

The heavy weight, or "superweight," continues to be popular in masters competition. The most notable recent competitions for this event was Christian Erb's Weltklasse international throwers meeting in Ru"dlingen, Switzerland of 1998-2001. The women's superweight weighs #35, but the event has not been officially sanctioned by USATF for the women. I don't know the world or American best. Masters throwers throw lighter weights beginning at age 50. The weight and superweight is contested from a 7' hammer circle with hammer rules. 

WORLD ALL-TIME LIST #56 (25.4kg) 16"(40.6cm) weight throw
1  16.59 Pavel Sedlacek (Cze) 26Aug2000 Ceykovice
2  16.38 Ilia Konovalov Rus 29Aug99 Ru"dlingen
3  16.18 Lance Deal US 29Aug99 Ru"dlingen
4  15.99 Vladimir Maska Cze 13Aug00 Ru"dlingen
5  15.91 Vasiliy Sidorenko Rus 13Aug00 Ru"dlingen
   15.83   Konovalov Rus 13Aug00 Ru"dlingen
   15.68   Maska Cze 98 Cejkovice
   15.54   Sidorenko Aug98 Ru"dlingen
6  15.30 Igor Astapkovich Rus Aug98 Ru"dlingen
   15.18   Sedlacek 98
7  15.15 *George Frenn (PCC) 8Aug71 DesMoines AAU Ch
8  15.13 Konstantin Astapkovich Blr Aug98 Ru"dlingen
   15.11    *Frenn (PCC)       69 AAU Ch
   14.99    Sedlacek (CSR) 17Aug97 Ru"dlingen
9  14.94 Zslot Nemeth Hun Aug98 Ru"dlingen
 - - - - -
3a 14.20 Kevin McMahon 29Aug99 Ru"dlingen

WORLD BEST PROGRESSION
American Records through 1953-71, ratified by USATF:
45-7 (13.89) Bob Backus 1953
48-0.75 (14.65) George Frenn 1967 AAU Ch
49-7.5 (15.11) Frenn 1969 AAU Ch
49-8.5 (15.15) Frenn (PCC) 8Aug71 Des Moines AAU Ch
15.30 Igor Astapkovich Blr 23Aug98 Ru"dlingen
15.54 Vassily Sidorenko Rus 23Aug98 Ru"dlingen
15.68 Vladimir Maska Cze 5Sep98 Cejkovice
16.38 Ilia Konovalov Rus 29Aug99 Ru'dlingen
16.59 Pavel Sedlacek (Cze) 26Aug2000 Ceykovice
CURRENT AMERICAN BEST (not sure if ratified):
16.18 Lance Deal 29Aug99 Ru"dlingen
The #56 weight throw (#28 women) is also an event in Scottish highland games. However, Scottish rules require that you hold the weight with only one hand, so different (more discus-like) technique is used. Also, the Scottish weight can be 18" long, and it is thrown from a 9'-long rectangle on a grass or dirt surface. The WR is just under 50' (~15 meters).

The Irish NGB also contest a #56 weight sling: the weight is held with one hand, swung back through the legs, and forward for distance like a forward pud. The WR is 9.16 by John Menton in 1993 although Nick Sweeney hit 9.23 in 1994 with a longer-than-regulation weight.

The Irish NGB, Scottish highland games, and some strongman competitions, also contest a #56 weight for height (over a bar). This was also an early US track & field event in the late 19th and early 20th century. The WR is over 18 feet. The traditional technique is one handed swing through the legs and up over the back (another pud exercise). Recently, some athletes use a discus-style spin technique with a steep orbit.

Ultraweight In addition to the superweight, there are "Ultraweight" events, throwing weights which exceed the superweight--#98, #200, and #300 for men. There are no restrictions on the manner of throwing, and the implements themselves have less restriction in length and design--only that they have a handle, and that the handle is no further than 6" (15cm) from the mass of the implement. As such, various objects--kettlebells and even tractor suitcase plates--may be legal superweight implements.

12.5kg, 50cm weight throw: The Germans conduct a slightly longer, lighter weight throw. Also the Russians and Scandinavians conduct a 15kg weight throw. The best on the German weight is 34.01 by Heinz Weis in Mannheim, 23Sep89. The best American (or possibly Australian at the time) competing with the German weight throw is 27.92 by Peter Farmer Neu-Isenburg 15May76. The best woman throwing the 12.5kg, 50cm weight throw is 19.96, by Dawn Ellerbe US, Ru"dlingen in 2000.

Finally, I have heard that the French have historically had a 15kg/#33 weight throw. 1