Spencer Tyler wasted no time in his debut in Pleasanton: the Highland Games athlete took the 2016 US Invitational Heavy Events Title by a wide margin, with Dan McKim coming in second and Matt Vincent third.


2016 U.S. Invitational Heavy Events Championships: Tyler Takes Title
by Elizabeth M. Hammond
IronMind Enterprisese, Inc.


The tie for first place between Spencer Tyler and Dan McKim quickly came apart as day two got underway at the San Francisco Caledonian Club’s 151st U.S. Invitational Heavy Events Championships, in Pleasanton, California. 



Tyler, new to the pro class and a 2-time All American in the discus, separated himself from McKim by 6 points when he took first in the open stone at 52’ 3” to McKim’s seventh place 47’ 8”. Andy Vincent was second at 51’ 8’1/2”, with Matt Vincent on fourth at 50’ 5-1/2”. 



McKim, top dog in the hammers with both world records, bested the field in the heavy hammer with 117’ 6-1/2”, but he couldn’t shake Tyler, who, though over 7’ behind at 110’, came in second. Nathan Burchett was third at 107’ 8”.  



McKim, going for his sixth consecutive win at Pleasanton, was now on 18 points to Tyler’s 13 as they headed into the last event, the 28-lb. weight-for-distance.

Tyler definitively secured his win with a first-place 92’ 1”, which was a new field record, and McKim was third at 83’ 9.5”—with Matt Vincent separating them in second at 85’ 2”. 

Top three were Tyler at 14, McKim at 21 and Matt Vincent at 34—and a nice wrap-up for Tyler, who distinguished himself among the world’s best. 



As always, surrounded by palm trees, rolling brown hills, and blue skies, the U.S. Invitational at Pleasanton runs like clockwork in the capable hands of athletic director Steve Conway and his team of volunteers, including firm-but-fair judge Laurie Moore.

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