A Thursday throw-down at Fremd

The throwers (shot put and discus) are often out of the spotlight at track and field meets. They usually compete off to the side somewhere from the main attractions on the track.
But for nearly a decade, Fremd boys head coach and throwing guru Jim Aikens has held an event that puts the spotlight solely on the big boys. At 4:30 p.m. Thursday, he'll host his annual Fremd Throws Invite, and it should be quite a show based on some of the early returns from those invited and what appears to be a nice weather forecast.
Lake Park and last year's Class AA shot champ Dan Block, Fremd, Hersey, Wheaton North, West Aurora, Leyden and Hoffman Estates will bring their throwing crews. But Aikens also made a change to invite some of the top individuals to compete as well.
It's a chance to see if Huntley junior Marcus Popenfoose can top what he did last weekend when he had one of the all-time best throws in state history in the discus (192-10) and also went 58 feet in the shot. Buffalo Grove's Alan Baxter, who is headed to Northern Illinois to play football, threw 59 feet indoors this season. Winnebago's Alex Thompson was the Class A discus champion last spring and Geneva's Frank Boenzi was fifth in the state shot put last year.
It's also a fun way to try and bring out the best in some of the state's best. Each athlete gets 5 throws and no team scores are kept. There will also be music and afterward the athletes will get a chance to enjoy a post-meet cookout together.