Some of the top throwers from across the United States and around the world will make their way to North Idaho June 26 and 28 for the Iron Wood Throws Classic in the build-up for their respective national championships in July and August.

 

This year’s event will feature 22 Olympians from 14 countries, six national record holders and two world champions at the Iron Wood Throwers Center in Rathdrum, Idaho.

 

Saturday’s competitions will be a World Athletics Bronze-level meet. World ranking points and a $30,000 total purse will be awarded.

 

Laulauga Tausaga, a 2023 world champion for the United States, is the top entry in the women’s discus competition. Tausaga has already thrown 70.72 meters (232-0) this outdoor season, ranking her No. 2 in the world.

 

Americans Veronica Fraley, a 2024 Paris Olympian and NCAA champion at Vanderbilt, and Gabi Jacobs are two other athletes in the competition ranked top five in the world, ranking fourth and fifth, respectively.

 

Nigerian Olympians Chioma Onyekwere-Lyons and Obiageri Amaechi, American Olympian Rachel Dincoff, American World Championships member Elena Brucknert and Australian Taryn Gollshewsky complete a talented line-up.

 

2019 world champion DeAnna Price of the U.S. is just one of many world-class names entered in the women’s hammer

 

The American record holder at 80.31m (263-6) is joined by another pair of American standouts: 2024 Olympic silver medalist Annette Echikunwoke and world No. 2 Rachel Richeson.

 

Paris Olympians Stephanie Ratcliffe of Australia, who recently won the NCAA hammer title for Georgia, and Sade Olatoye of Nigeria bring more depth to the field.

 

The two shot put representatives for the U.S. at the Paris Olympics – Chase Jackson and Jaida Ross – headline an extremely competitive competition. Jackson is ranked No. 3 in the world this season. 

 

Jess Woodward, 2022 world championship finalist, and Maggie Ewen, 2023 world championships finalist, are another pair of Americans to watch.

 

Bahamian Olympian Rhema Otabor, 2024 NCAA champion,  will take on Americans Madison Wiltrout and Maddie Harris in the women’s javelin.

 

On the men’s side, world No. 2 Payton Otterdahl is the top entry in the shot put competition.

 

The Paris Olympian threw 21.97m (72-1) at the Rabat Diamond League in May, earning his world No. 2 spot.

 

American Roger Steen, the inaugural World Shot Put Series champion at the Drake Relays and 2025 world indoor medalist, expects to contend with his fellow countryman Otterdahl.

 

Uzeil Munoz of Mexico and Nick Ponzio of Italy, another pair of Paris Olympic finalists, figure to challenge both Americans, too.

 

American Curtis Thompson, ranked No. 3 in the world, will be an overwhelming favorite in the men’s javelin. The two-time Olympian threw a personal best 87.76m (287-11) at the Texas Relays in March, which was the farthest throw by an American in 18 years.

 

Paris Olympians Diego Del Real Galindo of Mexico and Alex Young of the U.S. are the top entries in the men’s hammer competition. Trey Knight, who just completed his senior season at Cal State-Northridge, is another notable entry.

 

The men’s discus will feature three Paris Olympians: Americans Andrew Evans and Joseph Brown, and Colombian Maurico Ortega. 2021 Tokyo Olympian Reggie Jagers III of the U.S. is entered, too.

 

Thursday’s competition will include several athletes competing both days, including Tausaga and Fraley in women’s discus and Del Real Galindo and Young in Hammer.

 

High schooler Simon Rosselli (Mead WA), US#2 in discus, will compete in the men’s competition.