Ballet is commonly defined as a performing dance, the origin of which dates back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The art form of throwing, as represented in field events, is quite like ballet. Throwing, whether it is the shot put, the discus or the javelin throw, requires practice and determination. Ballet dancers practice and learn techniques for years, the same kind of ritual that throwers practice, except ballet requires elegance, fluidity, and flexibility while throwing requires strength and smoothness.

While ballet dates back a few hundred years, the competition of track and field can be traced as far back as around 780 B.C. when the first Olympic Games were formed. Track and field has also evolved from mainly a running exhibition with some field, to a wide range of competitions that air on ESPN at least four times a year.

Junior Lindsey Machamer considered what makes a great thrower. “Someone who is dedicated and willing to put in time,” she said.

Ryan Smith had a slightly different take. “A good thrower is strong and has good technique,” he said.

Mikhail Baryshnikov is considered to be one of the greatest ballet dancers of the twentieth century, as he moves in such a manner that it appears as if everyone and everything around him stops to embrace his movement. Throwers demonstrate the same movements as Baryshnikov in the fact that the spinning motion and releasing of the ball are identical to the graceful combination of a spin into a jump. Ballet dancers go into a spin-cycle-like move, which generates the same power from the base of a body that is required from throwers.

Throwing, which is a two-season sport, is composed of an indoor and outdoor season. The indoor season, which takes place during the cold weather months, is a chance to have competition and get ready for the outdoor season, while the outdoor season for Manchester College brings hopes of the national competition and conference championships.

First-year Ryan Smith broke the school record for the weight throw recently at the indoor DePauw Invite. Smith’s efforts, even though great, only landed him second place while Machamer snatched third place in the shot put. This isn’t the first time that Smith and Machamer have placed; they both grabbed second place in the same events at the Hoosier-Buckeye Meet hosted by conference rival Rose Hulman.

For throwers, preparing for a season is quite like the season preparation for football. The workouts that are in the regimen of a thrower are equivalent to that of an offensive or defensive lineman, who mainly work on overall body athleticism through power cleans, and other workouts that stress whole body fitness. Running is not a large requirement for throwers, because they rarely leave the designated area in which they send objects into flight. Although running isn’t a huge deal, stretching is, especially stretching the hamstrings and legs because a strong base or core leads to better throws.

[Back to top]