Discus Sector
Standards Assessed: 2.2, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.5, 4.1, 4.5
Name __________________
Trigonometry
Directions: Discus is one of the most exciting events in track and field due to the speed
and distances involved. It also makes it one of the most dangerous events. Thrower and
spectator safety is always a great concern.
The National Federation of State High School
Associations has very strict and detailed
dimensions for throwing sectors and discus
cages. The sector has an angle measurement
of 34.920 degrees. The actual throwing ring
has a diameter of 96.5 inches.
Currently the national high
school record is 234’ 3”
(from the edge of the ring to
where the discus lands). If
we assume that this is the
maximum distance to be
thrown, what is the distance
between the left and right
out-of-bounds lines at this
distance? Is this wider than a
football field (160 feet)?
Explain how you determined the distance across including any necessary computations,
sketches, formulas, and notes.