WESTWOOD, CALIFORNIA, May 26–27 — There were worries after some stars committed to the Los Angeles Grand Prix and later withdrew, that the meet would not be able to stand on its own. Our sport is doomed, the sky is falling, they cried. But thanks to the heroics of sprinters, distance runners and field eventers, 7 world leading marks were set, led by a none-too-shabby shot put clinic provided by the World Record holder himself.
Over the decades, UCLA’s Drake Stadium has seen its share of great putters. Feuerbach, Oldfield, Laut, Brenner, Godina to name a few who have graced the grounds, but when Randy Barnes threw 75-10 (23.12) in 1990, the throwing world stood still.
[Consistent with out policy, that mark, a World Record at the time, does not appear on T&FN’s all-time lists because, Barnes failed a doping test later in the season.]
Ryan Crouser had Barnes on his mind when he began his day as this was the locale where Barnes had established the old WR before Crouser smashed it in 2021. On his initial attempt, the 2-time Olympic champ tossed 76-2¾ (23.23), the equal fifth-longest throw in history, then 76-5¾ (23.31) in round 2, the No. 3 all-time throw.
After a sedentary 75-3¼ (22.94), all heck broke loose in round 4 when the steel tape measured 77-3¾ (23.56), besting Crouser’s old WR, 76-8¼ (73.37) set at the ’21 Olympic Trials. He finished his series with 74-9¾ (22.80) and 75-0 (22.86), for a 6-throw average of 75-10¼ (23.12).
Kiwi Olympic bronze medalist Tom Walsh placed 2nd with his 72-7 (22.12) second-round throw. In 3rd place, North Dakota State alum Payton Otterdahl’s 72-1¾ (21.99) PR eclipsed the Mexican record 71-9½ (21.88) of Uziel Muñoz in 4th.
Crouser told NBC’s Lewis Johnson, “Yeah, I’m just so excited with the performance today. It’s early in the year, so it’s a great true outdoor season opener. The training, I think, kinda showed itself. The best thing is that I’m still on high volume, heavy throws in the ring and heavy weights in the weight room, so we’re just trying to work in some speed. I’m excited to see with some plyos and some proper training what I can get out there.”
He later told reporters, “The realistic goal was to throw a season’s best. That was the minimum I was looking for. When I have a meet like this I kinda have two goals, one is like a…
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