Young athletes from Northern California attended a throws clinic hosted by the Rancho Cordova Track Club at Cordova High School on Nov. 10.

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - On Nov. 10, a throws clinic was held at Cordova High. The Rancho Cordova Track Club (RCTC) hosted the first of its kind clinic, which was led by Rancho Cordova Track Club throws coach Andy Bloom.

Coach Bloom is a former American Olympic shot putter, two-time national indoor shot put champion, World University Games shot put champion, and NCAA champion in both discus and shot put. 

More than 30 athletes attended the clinic, ranging from ages 8 to 21. Attendees came from Rancho Cordova, Sacramento, the Central Valley and the Bay Area. They learned the basics of shot put, discus and the hammer throw, in addition to throwing strength and conditioning fundamentals. 

Clinic attendees are led on a throws exercise by Coach Bloom at Cordova High on Nov. 10.

Bloom hosted a lunch talk with a question-and-answer session where athletes and families learned more about his time competing in the sport and what it takes to develop as a thrower.

“A clinic like this is a great way to expose youth athletes to track and field, in this case the throwing events, and also good for current throwers as they can extend their skills and often improve by re-visiting the basics,” said Rancho Cordova Athletic Association President, Rancho Cordova Track Club throws coach and Rancho Cordova Mayor David M. Sander, Ph.D.

The Rancho Cordova Track Club provides a great opportunity for Rancho Cordova athletes to train and compete in school-based and USA Track & Field (USATF) track and field events. Throwing athletes can be trained in shot put and discus in which they can compete in middle school and high school, and javelin, hammer and weight throws that they can compete in USA Track & Field track meets, the National Junior Olympics and college. 

In addition, the Rancho Cordova Track Club throws team has distinguished itself at the national level, having athletes named as All-Americans and sending several on to collegiate-level competition. 

Former Olympian and Rancho Cordova Track Club throws coach Andy Bloom demonstrates strength conditioning techniques at a throws clinic on Nov. 10.

The Rancho Cordova Track Club is funded partly by hosting large track meets. The City of Rancho Cordova sponsors some athletes by providing residents who need assistance with club fees. Many of the field improvements at Cordova High were funded by the Rancho Cordova Athletic Association, which is an organization funded by Rancho Cordova’s Measure H Community Enhancement Fund.

The Rancho Cordova Track Club is blessed to have a number of very gifted throws coaches. Besides Coach Bloom and Coach Sander, the Rancho Cordova Track Club board member/throws coach Travis Johnson, along with throws coach Alex Knudsen, round out this very experienced group of coaches. Look for many more track and field clinics in the future as the Rancho Cordova Track Club looks to expand its program. For those interested in learning more about the Rancho Cordova Track Club, visit its website at rctrack.org.