IRON WOOD THROWS CLASSIC: Hammering out the kinks ... Moran, Johnson among winners as throwers prep for Saturday's Continental Tour event

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

RATHDRUM — You can excuse Shelby Moran a little if she felt more than comfortable in the ring for the women’s hammer throw on Thursday.

At this point, she knows the landscape around the Iron Wood Throwers Center in Rathdrum better than most.

Moran topped the three-person field in the women’s hammer throw with a distance of 229 feet, 10 inches, winning the event on the first day of the 12th annual Iron Wood Throws Classic. Thursday’s events were considered practice rounds for Saturday’s Continental Tour event in Rathdrum, with the winner claiming $1,500.

“There was nothing special about my series today,” said Moran, who spent her first two collegiate seasons at Arizona State before transferring to Oregon for her junior and senior year in 2023 and 2024. I was just trying to work on my entry and get ready for Saturday.”

T’Mond Johnson, who competed at Texas State and lives in Philadelphia, didn’t waste any time getting into a rhythm, winning the men’s shot put with a throw of 68 feet, 9 ¾ inches.

“This is year five for me here,” Johnson said. “It was really cool to sit around and come out to a place that’s just for throwers. It’s exciting.”

While at Stanwood (Ore.) High, Moran competed with the best in the nation in Rathdrum years ago, through the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation in 2017, 2018 and 2019 in the hammer and shot put.

“Being a high schooler, and getting to throw with other professionals, that was really cool,” said Moran. “Today was more of a practice, or shakeout day to get ramped up for Saturday.”

Saturday’s events begin with the men’s hammer throw and women’s shot put at 11 a.m., followed by the men’s shot put at noon. The women’s hammer is at 1 p.m., followed by the men’s discus and women’s javelin at 3 p.m. The event concludes with the women’s discus and men’s javelin at 4:30 p.m.

Saturday’s winner in each event receives $1,500, with $1,000 for second place, $700 for third and $550 for fourth.

With Nike U20 Outdoor Nationals also this weekend in Eugene, younger athletes that used to compete at Iron Wood are now opting to go to nationals instead.

Iron Wood used to offer high school divisions in some events, which attracted local throwers.

Moran was ninth in last year’s Continental Series event in Rathdrum with a throw of 222-3.

“I really like the atmosphere here,” Moran said. “The facility is really nice and the atmosphere is really nice. They’re really into the throws here, and it’s not like other meets. Everything is focused on the throws.”

Moran was fourth in the 2024 NCAA Championships in the hammer with a throw of 227-9.

“I just need to continue working on what I’ve been working on,” Moran said. “It’s been a fun year. I’ve got a different training group this year, and it’s been a lot of fun this year.”

Johnson’s high on the season was 68 feet, 8 inches on May 9 in Fleetwood, Pa.

“It was my second-best throw of the year, so that was good,” said Johnson, who beat Garage Strength teammate Lucas Warning by 6 feet, 8 ¾ inches. “We came here from Pennsylvania yesterday and it was about 10 hours of travel. We got into Spokane late, and were up at 3 a.m. (Eastern time) to fly here. My technique held up, which was nice, so I know there’s more there.”

Johnson and Warning arrived in Spokane around 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

“When I got here, I was like ‘damn, I’m tired’ and went to sleep,” Johnson said. “This meet always falls in line with the U.S. Championships, and you’ve got to see where you’re at with the best throwers and see if you can show out.”

Johnson was ninth in Rathdrum last year.

“We’ve been seeing some good numbers leading into this weekend,” Johnson said. “I just need to stay focused on my technique and let it happen.”

Other winners on Thursday were Grayson Fleming in the men’s hammer throw (235 feet, 11 inches), Gabriella McDonald in the women’s shot put (56-2), former Olympian Joseph Brown in the men's discus (209 feet, 11 inches) and Veronica Fraley in the women's discus (205 feet, 1 inch).

Brown qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, finishing 22nd.

Fraley was third in the women's discus last year in Rathdrum.

MEN’S HAMMER THROW — 1, Grayson Fleming, United States, 235 feet, 11 inches. 2, Kade McCall, United States, 228-5. 3, Garret Bernt, United States, 225-9. 4, Brock Eager, United States, 215-5.

WOMEN’S HAMMER THROW — 1, Shelby Moran, United States, 229 feet, 10 inches. 2, Stamatia Scarvelis, Greece, 222-3. 3, Lexi Maples, New Zealand, 204-3.

MEN’S SHOT PUT — 1, T’Mond Johnson, United States, 68 feet, 9 ¾ inches. 2, Lucas Warning, United States, 62-1. 3, Zack Short, Honduras, 55-11 ¼. 

WOMEN’S SHOT PUT — 1, Gabriella McDonald, United States, 56-2.

MEN'S DISCUS — 1, Joseph Brown, United States, 209 feet, 11 inches. 2, Jordan Roach, United States, 192-2.

WOMEN'S DISCUS — 1, Veronica Fraley, United States, 205 feet, 1 inch. 2, Caisa-Marie Lindfors, Sweden, 202-6. 3, Alexandra Freeman, United States, 198-8. 4, Rachel Dincoff, United States, 197-10. 5, Elena Bruckner, United States, 195-2.

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press T'Mond Johnson of Philadelphia makes an attempt during the men's shot put during the first day of the 12th annual Iron Wood Throws Classic on Thursday at the Iron Wood Throws Center in Rathdrum. Saturday's second day, part of the Continental Tour runs from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press Zack Short of Honduras makes an attempt during the men's shot put during the first day of the Iron Wood Throws Classic at the Iron Wood Throws Center in Rathdrum. The event, part of the Continental Tour, resumes on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Rathdrum.
  

    Photo by JERRY VICK Gabriella McDonald awaits her distance following her attempt in the women's shot put during the first day of the Iron Wood Throws Classic at the Iron Wood Throws Center in Rathdrum on Thursday.
  

    Photo by JERRY VICK Veronica Fraley prepares to make her throw during the women's discus on the first day of the Iron Wood Throws Classic on Thursday at the Iron Wood Throws Center in Rathdrum. Fraley won the event with a throw of 205 feet, 1 inch.
  

    Photo by JERRY VICK Joseph Brown winds to make his throw during the men's discus on the first day of the Iron Wood Throws Classic on Thursday at the Iron Wood Throws Center. Brown won the event with a throw of 209 feet, 11 inches.
  

    Photo by JERRY VICK Gabriella McDonald celebrates her winning throw of 56 feet, 2 inches in the women's shot put on the first day of the Iron Wood Throws Classic on Thursday in Rathdrum.