Ancient Athletics is a unit of the St. Andrew Society of Central  Illinois.  Over the past decade, central Illinoishas become nationally recognized for its Highland Games and is also home to several world class Highland games athletes.  Havana IL’s Chad Braden represents the region at the professional level, competing in games across the country.  Local amateur athletes include world record  holder Kevin Rogers, and Oregon State Masters Champion Merl Lawless, both of Springfield.  Both Merl and Chad will be returning to Carbondale this year along with several other athletes to compete in traditional and colorful Scottish and Irish kilts, adding to the spectacle of the event.   Using metal weights with a chain or handle attached, athletes throw the 56 lb. heavy weight and the 28 lb. weight for distance.  The competition will consist of two equal groups.  Matched individuals will throw against each other and the winner of each event will earn a ribbon to be placed on their clan Flag.  At the end of the day, the clan with the most ribbons wins the overall.  There could be up to 36 individual battles on the field, with the rest of the athletes cheering for their own clansman to prevail.  After a warmup in the morning, the competition should take all day to complete, ending in the caber competition and an award ceremony.  The traditional Scottish Caber Turn involves athletes attempting to turn end over end a 17-24 foot tall pole which weighs between 80 and 150 pounds.