A man was killed Sunday morning during a high school track and field meet in a field house on the campus of the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs, school officials said.
UCCS spokesman Chris Valentine said in a news release that the man, who was watching in the audience at the Mountain Lion Fieldhouse, died when a hammerweight thrown by a competitor broke “certified barriers” and hit him.
In hammer throw, a metal weight – attached to a chain and handle – is thrown as far as possible after momentum has been generated by spinning in a circle.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department responded to the crash after the man was struck around 9:30 a.m., the release said. Police officers from UCCS and Colorado Springs also responded.
Paramedics provided medical care, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene, the news release said.
“We are heartbroken by this terrible accident and are focused on supporting everyone involved,” UCCS Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet said in the news release.
According to the release, the track meet was one of a series of three meets for high school athletes from club sports across the state. The first meeting was on December 15, 2024.
The man will be identified by the El Paso County Coroner’s Office at a later date.
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