It's not as excessive a competition as portrayed in the just released movie the Hunger Games, but the daily battle of Chandler throwers Travis Colby and Shawn Collins that's gone on the last  four seasons is an interesting study nonetheless.

Colby and Collins went back and forth one-upping each other either in practice or meets over the last three seasons. It's continued this year with a strange, but not uncommon conclusion at a meet on March 9.

 "Two weeks ago at the Brophy Invitational I won the shot put and set a meet record," Collins said. "Travis won the discus and set the meet record. Last year it was just the opposite. It was weird how it worked out."

So who is better or ultimately wins out between them? It's unresolved and still may be when state rolls around in mid-May. The seniors have plenty of motivation this week with the 72rd annual Chandler Rotary Track and Field Meet commencing Friday (open meet) and Saturday (the seeded invitational) at Chandler High's Austin Field in which they will participate.

To them the Rotary is on par with the state meet with entrants from every division in Arizona and some from out of state. The more competition, the better. Just like at workouts each day with teammate and junior Dominic Nappe adding to the fray when healthy. Nappe is currently nursing a hamstring injury, but has  pushed and occasionally bested his elder mates.

"All these guys are extremely competitive," Chandler track coach Eric Richardson said. "Not only by nature, but once they see how the others do. Dominic thinks he's better then Shawn and Travis. He goes out every day to try and prove it."

Colby's been throwing the shot since third grade, recalling what he tossed then was like "a little marble". Collins picked up throwing  late in grade school and threw both the shot and discus. Colby has found a knack with the discus the last couple years. Motivation is always just a glance away at home for Colby.

"I have a paper on my wall with the school records to shoot for," Colby said. "It helps being pushed at practice. You can't beat the competiton we have on a daily basis. Technique and competition is a benefit for us."

Neither Colby, Collins or Nappe has hit the shot or discus jackpot yet. -- winning state, Rotary or the lofty goal of setting a school record. That keeps their motivation keen.

Last year at the Rotary, Nappe placed fourth and Colby was fifth in the shot. At state Colby was fourth with a personal best of 55 feet, 2 inches in the shot and fourth in the discus (166-8).  Nappe and Collins did not place in either event, but Collins was ninth in the discus and Nappe 10th in the shot.

Richardson believes better results are coming --- and  soon -- for his throwers. He credits weights coach Ted Williams with hitting the right notes with all Chandler's throwers (male and female). Three girls threw the shot 40 feet last year and the Wolves have a couple more this year ready to follow up.

"Coach Williams is intense with all of them at practice," Richardson said. "The pressure for them becomes internal. He backs off, watches at meets. But they are prepared when they're out  there competing."

The top four in Saturday's seeded boys shot put competition are Mesa High's Talaiasi Tauel, Desert Ridge's Alex Barrett, Collins and Colby. The top three in discus are Notre Dame Prep's Michael Foley, Colby and Collins. Saturday's Rotary  is a stage waiting for Colby and Collins to alter those seedings a bit.