CHARLESTON, SC - Several of the top hammer throwers in the world are meeting at Charleston Southern University's Bagwell-Settle track facility this weekend for the third annual Hurricane Classic Hammer Clinic, taking place Friday through Sunday.
Among the participant's are World Record holder Youri Sedykh, four-time NCAA champion Dawn Ellerbe of the University of South Carolina, Olympic champion and Hall of Famer Harold Connolly, world-ranked Bert Sorin and NCAA qualifier Amber Campbell of Coastal Carolina University.
Connolly is considered one of the greatest hammer throwers in history and won the 1956 Olympic gold medal. He broke the world record seven times and became the first man ever to throw 240-feet.
Ellerbe is a five-time USA Indoor champion and was a four-time All-American at South Carolina.
The seminar began on Friday with instruction and lectures on technique and strength development. Saturday's sessions will focus on elite throwing and instruction and a seminar on psychology and competition. The event concludes on Sunday with a weight pentathlon competition, consisting of youth, college and elite throwers.
The event is co-sponsored by the Mount Pleasant Track Club, the Charleston Track and Field Club, Coastal Carolina University, Charleston Southern University, The Citadel, USATF South Carolina and Dr. Ken Jansson of Advanced Orthopedics Associates in Wichita, Kansas.