Crouser beats Kovacs in Zagreb street event on the eve of the Boris Hanzekovic Memorial

Zagreb hosts the Memorial Boris Hanzekovic, the final leg of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold. 

The Croatian meeting started on Friday with the women’s pole vault and the men’s long jump. These disciplines were held as street events during the Zagreb City Challenge. The programme continued on Saturday with the men’s shot put, which was street event in the city center.

Report shot put (city event held on Saturday): 

Kovacs took the early lead with a throw of 21.97m in the first round. 

Crouser threw over the 21 metres barrier three times (21.95m, 21.76m, 21.72m) before producing the only throw of the evening over the 22 metres with 22.19m in the fifth round to take the win. Kovacs threw over the 21 metres barrier thee times (21.49m, 21.94m and 21.91m). 

Eight shot putters threw over the 21 metres barrier. Josh Awotunde  moved into third with a throw of 21.73m in the fourth round repeating the same podium order as the World Championships in Eugene. 

This year’s Commonwealth Games champion Tom Walsh placed fourth with 21.32m. European Championships fourth placer Nick Ponzio took fifth place with 21.27m. The other three shot putters, who were able to throw over the 21 metres barrier were Roger Steen (21.15m), European champion Filip Mihaljevic from Croatia (21.09m) and Armin Sinancevic from Serbia (21.04m). 

Crouser finished in the top-two in all of his competitions in 2022. 

Ryan Crouser: “It was a slow start for me tonight, technically I had some struggles. I connected with one throw but unfortunately in the latter rounds and that was too late to build on it. The main thing is to get the win as the field is so talented and deep, as every year in Zagreb; to walk  away with a win from this meeting is always an honour. That was an amazing competition in Zurich. Joe has been on the edge of such a big throw for so many years and we knew he could do it. We have been travelling together for seven years now so to see him to do such a big throw was just awesome. It is excellent to have such strong opponents because it makes me train harder and want to throw further. It can be difficult at times. To throw 22.74m in the Diamond League final and finish second, but it is great for the sport. I will compete against Kovacs in Bellinzona ”. 

Joe Kovacs: “It was a pretty bad meeting for me. I had a delayed flight yesterday, lost my bags and I had just one meal today, so I lost my energy quickly. This is a great venue in Zagreb. I just wish that it…