June 17-18, 2005

Hammer Thrower - serious injury
Noah Bryant (Univ So Cal) - former Carpinteria HS Star
hit by his own implement that bounced off
cage at CS Northridge 4/2/05

Former Carpinteria HS star Noah Bryant (67-06.5 SP in 2002 for the Southern Section small school power) suffered a serious injury Saturday 4/2 at Cal State Northridge when the hammer implement he was throwing bounced off the cage and hit him in the face. Below is a note from his father with pictures of Noah and contact information if you wish to pass on best wishes to the weight star. It is followed by an article from the USC newspaper and summary on the USC Track & Field Site

4/24 message from father Dan Bryant

Noah is back at school after being home for two weeks.  He is making a great recovery and has really appreciated the support he's gotten from all over.  He's gotten emails from world record holders and high school athletes he competed against, as well as college athletes and coaches from across the country.  They were very helpful in his recovery.  His throws coach, Dan Lange, was also incredibly supportive.  He's a great guy.  

Noah was doing well in his classes so making up the work was manageable.  Noah's email address is [email protected] if folks want to write him.

There is a brief narrative of the injury at  http://www.eboards4all.com/789727/messages/608.html

(narrative posted below)

Posted by Dan Bryant on April 10, 2005 at 22:33:55:
First of all, thank you for your prayers, support, and emails. I printed out all of the emails and gave them to Noah; he appreciated all of them. It would take pages to re-cap this week completely, so I will abridge the events.
Noah was hit in the right eye by a ricocheting hammer at CSUN. Because he instinctively threw his right hand up to stop the hammer, he injured his right hand and, according to the ENT plastic surgeon, prevented more extensive damage. The lower orbital bone and the bottom of the eye socket were severely damaged and required metal plates and screws to do the repairs. The surgeon said that was the worst damage to that area he had seen in 20 years of practicing. However, he was absolutely amazed that his eye, his jaw, his teeth, his skull, and anything above the eye was in excellent, undamaged condition. The right hand ended up protecting that area.
For the first four or five days, Noah was having excruciating headaches. Those have now subsided with proper medication and almost non-stop sleep! I think we have turned the corner somewhat because he went out with his brother and me for a quick lunch (first time). It’s not like Noah to ever turn down free food, but he did for a week.
It has been eight days now and his eye is still swollen shut. He is going to stay here in Santa Barbara for at least another week so his mom and I can take care of him.
As to this season, it is over but he will be back next year. One last thing, I’ve gotten phones calls from friends and the press checking up on Noah’s progress. Since this is his life, I asked him what he wanted me to convey to callers – he said only one thing – “Ask them to pray for me.”
If you want to get a message to Noah, please feel free to send to it me, and I’ll print it out for him. [email protected]
Thank you,
Dan Bryant – Noah’s dad

USC Daily Trojan Article - week of 4/2 injury

Noah Bryant underwent surgery to repair bone he shattered in recent incident.

USC thrower Noah Bryant underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair the cheek bone he shattered in a hammer throwing incident at last weekend's Cal State Northridge eight way meet.

Bryant was struck in the face, when the hammer he was throwing in competition bounced off of a side pole and came back toward his direction, striking him in the face.

Bryant, an All-American shot-putter for the Trojans last season who also regularly contributes as a hammer thrower, was rushed to the hospital in Northridge.

He later returned to his family's home in Santa Barbara.

Bryant's surgery will require titanium plates in the areas of the bone that were shattered.

He also broke his nose and suffered an injury to his right hand, which he was able to shield most of his head with.

Bryant's parents, Dan and Susie, said that they are grateful their son's injury was not worse.

"Thanks to Noah's quick reaction, he was able to shield his face with his hand," Dan Bryant said.

"If it had hit him in the temple, things could have been much more serious."

The hammer is a 16-pound steel ball on the end of a wire that is thrown at high velocity as throwers spin and release it.

USC Track and Field Release for Week after 4/2 with info:

Despite many great marks, the Trojans suffered a big disappointment after junior shot putter and hammer thrower Noah Bryant was injured by a hammer in a freak accident at the CSUN Eight Way in Northridge. Bryant suffered a fractured cheekbone, broken nose and severely injured his hand and was immediately rushed to a local hospital following the accident. He will be out for the rest of the season.