CEDAR CITY, UTAH -- The Southern Utah University Track & Field program has taken a significant step forward with the completion of its brand-new throws facility—a cutting-edge, fully integrated space designed to elevate the training and performance of SUU student-athletes.

Head Coach Eric Houle said

"The new throw facility has been a long time coming, and patience has paid off. It is one of the best, if not the best, facilities in the state. It also lends itself to the student athlete's safety and the coaches' ability to work with all the throwers at one site. It's a facility the athletic department should be proud of and one that will help develop athletes who can compete at the conference, regional, and, hopefully, national levels."

The state-of-the-art complex allows student-athletes to train for all throwing disciplines in a single, centralized location—something SUU Throws Coach Carlos Valle calls a "game-changer" for both safety and functionality. "Simply amazing," Valle said, describing his first impression of the completed facility. "Being part of the whole process and seeing everything come together—it just looked incredible."

Safety and efficiency are two essential characteristics of the new facility. The new layout allows simultaneous training for discus, shot put, hammer, and javelin—each with dedicated space and proper containment. Full throwing cages and strategic netting ensure safety not only for the athletes but also for staff and spectators.

"Before, we had athletes throwing in three or four different locations across campus," Valle explained. "Now, everything's right here. I don't have to schedule hammer in one place, javelin in another. It's all together, and that makes training more efficient and effective for everyone."

The new layout was also strategically designed to maximize throwing performance. Taking Cedar City's unique weather patterns into account, Valle personally adjusted the orientation of the throwing areas to optimize the wind direction—a critical factor in events like discus and javelin.

"Throwing into a headwind actually helps aerodynamic implements like the discus and javelin," Valle noted. "Now, our athletes can benefit from that natural boost in distance because of how the facility is positioned."

The facility opened late in the 2025 spring season—just in time to host SUU's home meet, regional high school competitions, and more—most athletes have yet to train fully in the new space. Valle said several have stayed on campus to train over the summer, and early impressions have been overwhelmingly positive. "Everyone who's seen it has said the same thing: this is amazing," Valle said. "Having everything—the equipment, the weight room, athletic training room—all within a 500-foot radius? That's a performance booster."

The new facility will also be a massive recruiting advantage for future SUU student-athletes. "Even before it was finished, recruits were impressed just seeing the plans," said Valle. "Now that it's real, it's going to set us apart from a lot of other programs."

About The New Facility

• Fully enclosed throwing cages for all necessary disciplines

• Dedicated javelin runway and shot put sectors

• Centrally located for proximity to training, athletic care, and support facilities

• Designed with safety, wind patterns, and athlete convenience in mind

• Host-ready for collegiate and high school competitions

The new facility was made possible thanks to the generosity of key donors, including Joe and Jean Lopour, whose support helped bring the vision to life.

"Without them, this wouldn't have happened," Valle said. "To every donor who contributed—thank you. This is a major upgrade for our program, and we're putting it to great use."

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