Concrete slid down the chute in spurts as a small army of volunteers smoothed over what would soon be a shot put practice pad at Tahoma High.

While the sun shone down on Aug. 12, Keith Eager led the group as it worked on the project, which has grown into a community project. His oldest son, Derek, competed for the Bears for four years before earning a scholarship to UCLA.

So, the veteran coach knew exactly was he getting into after more than 20 years working with throwers at Renton High.

“When I was at Renton, I probably left the best throwing facility in the state,” Eager said. “When they renovated Renton Stadium they asked me what I wanted.”

So, when Eager arrived at Tahoma, he knew what he was getting into as far as facilities but he didn’t like what he saw.

“I knew that was one of the challenges coming here,” Eager said. “But, that didn’t stop me from coming here.”

Especially when he had close to 40 athletes at practice with just one discus ring and one shot put ring.

“It’s really hard to have a quality practice with two rings,” he said. “There was a need. I really think it’s going to help our athletes, so, that’s what motivated me.”

On Aug. 12 a concrete truck came in as volunteers helped while the concrete was poured into a 40-foot-by-9-foot slab where throwers could practice their shot put technique. There will be nine toe boards on the pad.

“I also extended the shot put pit from 53 feet to 75 feet, so, we have just a little bit more room,” Eager said. “Opposite the discus cage, I’m putting in another competition ring on the other side of the field. Then I’m putting in a 50-by-11 concrete pad to throw discus off of by the back fence.”

Fixing the discus area is an idea senior-to-be Nadine Hyde had come up with a while ago and she was planning to do it for a senior project.

And now Hyde, who throws discus, is also helping with the shot put area of the project.

“I’ve wanted to do this ever since I was a freshman,” Hyde said. “This is my dream senior project. I couldn’t have done it without the Eagers.”

Meanwhile Eager said he had working on the project since February.

“I guess I went big,” Eager said. “I have practices here all summer. It’s not like I just use it for three months and call it a day.”

With 12 kids out every Tuesday during summer break, the throwers have been to 15 to 18 meets, and every single athlete has chalked up a lifetime personal record in at least one event.

So, improving the facilities to allow for greater and better use beyond just track season in the spring allows the kids to progress, Eager said.

“That’s basically two seasons of track,” he said. “That’s how you get better, you keep going to meets and you keep practicing.”

Eager knows a little something about helping throwers get better. Many athletes that have participated under his tutelage while at Renton High have gone on to college both on partial and full track and field scholarships.

In turn, the throwers and their families as well friends have helped with the efforts to improve the throwing facilities.

Donations have come in from Sunset Materials, Quality Aggregate, White Cap, Pete Corner Hauling and Excavating, as well as Brian Whiting who has a son on the team.

The school district has also helped as much as it can, Eager said.

While much of the cost of the project has been covered either by the district or through donations, Eager noted, he could still use another $700 to $1,00.

He wouldn’t turn down additional help and donations.

“If we get help from the community, that would be awesome,” Eager said. “If not, we’re going to get it done anyway. It’s going to help us out to have better facilities to practice in, there’s no question. A lot of the kids have bought into summer throwing and have gotten better. Sometimes as a coach you wonder is all this extra work I’m doing going to pay off.

Hopefully next year we come out and we build on what we’ve done already.”

Donations can be made to the track and field team, care of Tahoma High School, and are tax deductible.