Wade Langston attended the UCCS United High School Meet Series #2 to watch his son, Colin Langston, compete at the event.
Sadly, Wade Langston, 57, died when the large metal ball struck him at the Colorado United Track Club event at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs on Sunday, January 26, 2025.
Highlights
- Wade Langston was a casualty claims adjuster for USSA Insurance who moved to Colorado in the 1990s.
- Langston lost his life after a large metal ball struck him at the Colorado United Track Club event.
- Wade was married to Ronda Langston and had one son named Colin Langston.
He is believed to have been killed almost instantly as he blocked the weight from hitting his wife.
Langston was seated on a row of three bleachers facing away from the weight throw field and only saw the weight coming towards him at the last moment.
The bleachers faced toward the indoor running track of Mountain Lion Fieldhouse while his son was racing for Vista Ridge High School in Colorado Springs.
Witnesses said the throw was off-target and veered off to the left and over a 12-foot net before landing in the bleachers.
The people watching the throw saw it was going errant and yelled out.
One of the spectators said the victim was in stands facing away from the throwing arena right in front of that makeshift net barrier, watching the track area.
Shocked spectators who were narrowly missed by the deadly projectile screamed in panic and started calling 911. One witness said the amount of blood was horrific.
The photos of the event obtained showed the nets only covering part of the spectating area. They were angled to align with the bleachers, not towards the throwing circle. The rest of the field was sectioned off using hurdles.
The teen explained how the nets behind the bleachers to catch errant throws were the lowest they had seen in their six years of competing. They added,
‘The net didn’t cover any of the bleachers, it was angled the wrong way. Their barricades were hurdles, and the nets weren’t taller than 12ft,’ they said. ‘My heart goes out to his kid who watched their dad die, and the family. As well as the thrower who I can imagine will be in therapy for years to come. ‘This was seriously traumatizing and there should be more regulations around throwing facilities, as accidents like this, while not common, do happen.’
Spectators
However, the event was canceled around 9:30 a.m. after the incident occurred.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department arrived and provided medical care, but Wade was pronounced dead at the scene.
Wade’s family member Tamara Rocha poured a heartfelt condolence through social media by stating,
“Wade was a devoted husband, loving father, cherished brother and brother-in-law, fun uncle, and an even more fun great-uncle,”“He was a truly wonderful person who brought laughter to every room he entered with his great sense of humor.”
Tamara Rocha
Erik Huffman, owner, operator, and head coach at Colorado United Track Club, started a GoFundMe page following the track and field meet and offered his condolences to the Langston family.
Please know that our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with this family and they are not alone in their grief,” “We will continue to stand with the Langston Family and our Community in the spirit of Living United.”
Erik Huffman
Wade Langston’s Son Colin Langston Plays Men’s Track Meet At Vista Ridge High School
Wade Langston, a casualty claims adjuster for USSA insurance, had one son named Colin Langston, 18, with his wife, Ronda Langston, in 2007.
After marriage, Colin’s father and mother shifted to Colorado in the late 1990s.
Colin, who stands 5 feet 8 inches or 172 cm and weighs 135 lbs or 61 kg, plays the men’s senior track game for Vista Ridge High School.
His primary focus is the 400-meter dash, and he has also established himself as a key contributor to his team’s 4*400-meter relay.
Known for his left-hand dominance, he shows an effective running style.
Colin Langston has been featured on his father’s official Facebook page. On May 23, 2016, Wade posted a photo of Colin lifting the championship trophy.
Following the post, one of Wade’s colleagues, Janet McLin Lanier, commented,
So cute and congratulations on the trophy. How proud you must be.
Janet McLin Lanier
On May 27, 2018, Wade posted a photo of Colin wearing a jersey of the Warriors football club. Currently, Colin is mourning the tragic loss of his father, Wade.
Additional Information
- Before moving to Colorado, Colin Langston’s father, Wade Langston, grew up in Lubbock, Texas.
- The Colorado United Track Club has also started a fundraiser for Langston’s family.
- There was no EMS or even a first aid kit on sight, so people started CPR after landing Wade on the ground.
