A tragic incident at a youth track and field event resulted in the death of a devoted father and husband, Wade Langston, who was 57 years old. The accident occurred on Sunday during the Colorado United Track Club meet held at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, as confirmed by the El Paso County coroner’s office on Tuesday.
Relatives have described Langston as someone who filled every space with laughter and joy. His niece-in-law, Tamara Rocha, shared heartfelt sentiments in a GoFundMe campaign that has garnered over $7,500 to support Langston’s son, a high school senior, with his college education.
According to a statement from the university, the heavy weight in question cleared designated safety barriers before tragically striking Langston inside the fieldhouse. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene, and witnesses noted Langston’s brave attempt to protect his wife and son from the oncoming weight.
Although university spokeswoman Jenna Press declined to provide details about the ongoing investigation into the incident, including questions surrounding the setup of the barriers, there are concerns about safety protocols.
The “hammer” used in the hammer throw event consists of a heavy ball attached to a chain. In adult competitions, the weight is 16 pounds (7 kilograms) for men and 9 pounds (4 kilograms) for women, as per the regulations of World Athletics, which oversees international track and field events. Athletes generate momentum by spinning in a circular motion before releasing the hammer to achieve maximum distance.
In addition to Rocha’s GoFundMe campaign, another fund initiated by Erik Huffman, a coach from the Colorado United Track Club, has raised over $10,500 for Langston’s family.
The family has chosen to keep further comments limited, as indicated by Rocha in an email. No immediate response was received from Huffman through his fundraising page on Tuesday.
While fatal incidents during track and field events are uncommon, they have occurred in the past. Notably, a shot-put ball claimed the life of an official during practice at the U.S. track and field championships in Los Angeles back in 2005, and a hammer accident led to a student’s death at Wheaton College in Illinois in 2017.
