Welcome to the PTE Track and Field Blog!

First, the Coaches of PTE Track want to thank everyone who participated in the PTE Primer on March 17th, and we wish all of our athletes the best of luck throughout the season.

We will be updating this site with posts occasionally, but we wanted to start by addressing some of the common equipment purchasing questions all in one place. Over the time we have spent as athletes and coaches, we have purchased implements and training tools from all over the place. Below are some of our suggestions for where to buy things, keeping in mind cost, quality, and reliability. If you are interested in something that does not appear below, don't hesitate to email me and I will forward your question to the rest of the coaches so that we can get you the best answer.

First, currently MF Athletic is having a 20% off sale on selected throwing implements (shot puts, discuses, and javelins) Open the link below in a new window, then scroll down to read about our advice on which option is the best for you:

Shot Put

For shot puts, the "First Place Cast Iron Outdoor shots" are perfect for practice or competition. For girls, 4kg is the standard weight ($18.25), and 12lb. for boys ($21.50). It can sometimes be beneficial to purchase an underweight shot so that you can get more repetitions in without getting tired, or an overweight shot for other purposes. Feel free to ask us if you want more info on underweight/overweight training.

Discus

For Discs, the "First Place Red Discus" is a good choice for beginner or intermediate throwers, because the weight distribution will help the disc travel better than a rubber disc, but is a little more difficult to throw correctly as a beginner. With the prices starting at $40 for girls (1kg) and $47 for boys (1.6kg), this may not be the disc that you buy several of for practice purposes. Instead, we suggested during the clinic to get a few of the Rubber Discs:  here from MF for $16 (girls) or $17 (boys). Keep in mind that a rubber disc may be slightly cheaper through Amazon depending on the shipping option you choose.

Javelin

If purchasing a javelin, it is important to remember that they must have a rubber tip if they are going to be used in competition (or practice with your school) in the state of NJ. Where there are many options for javelins, first make sure that you are going to get the correct weight. Girls throw 600 gram javs, boys throw 800 gram javs. Javelins have different ratings according to the stiffness of the javelin. For beginners, a 40M javelin is the best choice because it is slightly more flexible and therefore more forgiving for a novice. A higher rating, such as 50M will travel better if thrown with better technique, but a beginner may have a harder time controlling this. The "First Place Mens/Womens Rubber Tip Javelins" are a good value, but a serious javelin thrower may eventually outgrow them. If you would like more advice about which javelin may be the best for you, email us and we will help you in any way we can.