In the summers of 2011 and 2012, there were maybe two or three weight throw pentathlons that were hosted among college throwers in the state of Kansas. We hosted one or two at Kansas State, when the coach at that time, Steve Fritz, was hoping to qualify for the master’s world championships in the weight throw pentathlon. It was just a time that we were all able to get together, toss around heavy stuff, and at the end of the day have some barely edible pizza from the college town staple – Pizza Shuttle (described by an official one year as “cardboard with ketchup on top”). Even though we might have all gotten together to have a good time, make no mistake that these were still events where we wore our pride on our sleeves. One year, at a fall weight throw pentathlon at Wichita State, a couple of guys that I regularly beat during the collegiate season nearly edged me out in the shot put. I realized just how out of shape I was after a summer of barely throwing at all, and you can bet that when I returned to practice the next week there was a new sense of urgency in my training.

Quoting from the Online Etymology Dictionary:

compete (v.) 1610s, “to enter or be put in rivalry with,” from Middle French compéter “be in rivalry with” (14c.), or directly from Late Latin competere “strive in common, strive after something in company with or together,” in classical Latin “to meet or come together; agree or coincide; to be qualified,” from com “with, together” (see com-) + petere “to strive, seek, fall upon, rush at, attack” (from PIE root *pet- “to rush, to fly”)

It is noteworthy that both compete and community share the root “com” meaning “with or together.” Some people may choose to focus on the “strive” or “attack” element of competition. But without others to compete against, there is no context for the struggle. Whether it’s a dozen college students getting together to throw against each other, or all the nations in the world coming together at the Olympics, competition engenders a strong community aspect.

I really wish that we had continued holding those weight throw pentathlons from college. Maybe that’s something to continue in the future. But hopefully we can afford a little bit better pizza. RH