Beach Invitational — Big Jumping & Throwing

Omar Craddock became American No. 9 to join the triple jump’s 58-foot club. (KEVIN MORRIS/PHOTO RUN)

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, April 19-20—The field events, highlighted by Ryan Crouser and Omar Craddock, stole the scene at the finest Beach Invitational yet. Olympic shot gold medalist Crouser lofted the two longest throws in the world in the last quarter century, a PR 74-7 (22.73) followed by an even better 74-7¼ (22.74). That moved the 26-year-old Oregon native to No. 5 in world history and No. 2 among Americans.

The competition, featuring Crouser along with collegiate leader Payton Otterdahl of North Dakota State, didn’t start out looking like it would be one for the ages. Because the final flight was large—13 throwers—preparation time was truncated. “We had very limited time in the ring. Not exactly an ideal warmup,” said Crouser. On his first three throws, he went 70-7¾ (21.53), 69-1¼ (21.06) and 70-7¾ again, giving him a solid lead. “I actually feel like I executed pretty well, technically. I didn’t feel quite warm and the biggest thing at this level is just staying healthy, so I didn’t really want to push it.”

Then, in the break before the finals, officials had to take extra time to sort out a discrepancy in the throwing order. The throwers asked to be allowed to take more warmup throws while they waited. “I found my groove there,” said Crouser. “I think I got four throws in. I felt a little bit of rhythm and finally started feeling warm.” He stepped into the ring for round 4, and launched a smooth drive. “Everything lined up, everything was where it was supposed to be. The goal was just to kind of increase the intensity on every throw. On the fifth, I tried to do the same thing, a higher intensity throw. It was an ugly throw by technical standards. It just didn’t have a clean release out of my hand. It just had a lot of spin on it.” Yet because of that increased intensity, it added another quarter-inch to his PR at 74-7¼ (22.74). The result put Crouser in a rarefied group, passing Tom Walsh and Randy Barnes on the all-time list.

Crouser closed out the day with a foul in the 72-foot (22.00) range. Four of his throws would have sufficed to win over Otterdahl and his outdoor PR of 70-1½ (21.37), with Canadian Tim Nedow in 3rd at 69-6 (21.18). Tripp Piperi of Texas lobbed a PR 68-11¼ (21.01) in 4th. (For video clips of his series, go here.)

In the triple jump, Craddock produced the best bound of his life, reaching 58-¼ (17.68) to move to No. 9 among Americans all-time. He opened his day with the best U.S. outdoor jump of the year, 56-3¾ (17.16) and fouled his second before hitting the world-leading monster on his third. Well satisfied, he finished off with a trio of passes. Fellow Gator alum Christian Taylor took 2nd at 56-4½ (17.18), telling T&FN, “It was from short approach. Just a training session. I won’t go from my full approach until Nanjing IWC. Focusing on technique. So when I add the speed, I can fly. (continues)

The women’s shot was also a sparkler, UCLA’s Alyssa Wilson topping Iowa’s Laulauga Tausaga on the tiebreaker as both reached new PRs of 59-1½ (18.02) to share the yearly collegiate lead. Wilson also captured the hammer at 224-11 (68.56), while Tausaga PRed with a collegiate-leading 204-4 (62.28) in the disc. Triple threat Wilson was 6th in that one at a PR 185-9 (56.63).

The vaults were also big. South Dakota’s Chris Nilsen reached an outdoor world leader of 19-1 (5.82) before going out with three tries at 19-4¼ (5.90). Olivia Gruver of Washington soared over 15-3½ (4.66), equaling the No. 8 collegiate performance ever, then took three attempts at a Collegiate Record 15-7¼ (4.76).


BEACH INVITATIONAL MEN’S RESULTS

Long Beach, California, April 19-20—

(4/19—HT, JT)

200(2.2): 1. Jamiel Trimble (unat) 20.63w.

HJ: 1. Trevor Barry’ (Bah) 7-2½ (2.20); 2. *Zack Anderson (SD) 7-2½ =PR; 3. Kevin Schultz (NWMo) 7-2½ PR; 4. Tyler Arroyo (Chico) 7-1 (2.16); 5. Curtis Richardson (Akr) 7-1.

PV: 1. *Chris Nilsen (SD) 19-1 (5.82) (out WL, AL, CL) (17-5½, 17-11¼, 18-3¼ [2], 18-7¼ [2], 19-1, 19-4¼ [xxx]) (5.32, 5.47, 5.57 [2], 5.67 [2], 5.82, 5.90 [xxx]);

2. Matt Ludwig (Akr) 18-7¼ (5.67); 3. **Clayton Fritsch (SHous) 18-3¼ (5.57) PR; 4. Audie Wyatt (AzPV) 18-3¼; 5. Dylan Bell (WCAP) 17-11¼ (5.47); 6. Olen Oates (AzPV) 17-11¼.

LJ: 1. Jordan Latimer (Akr) 26-3¾ (8.02) =PR; 2. Kemonie Briggs (LBSt) 25-9¼ (7.85); 3. *Treyshon Malone (IdSt) 25-4½ (7.73).

TJ: 1. Omar Craddock (CVE) 58-¼ (17.68) PR (WL, AL) (9, x A) (56-3¾ [out AL], f, 58-¼, p, p, p) (17.16, f, 17.68, p, p, p);

2. Christian Taylor (Nik) 56-4½ (17.18) (f, 55-9¼, 56-4½, 54-8¼, 54-6¾) (f, 17.00, 17.18, 16.67, 16.63); 3. Donald Scott (unat) 56-1¾ (17.11); 4. KeAndre Bates (unat) 55-8¼ (16.97); 5. Chris Carter (unat) 55-3½ (16.85); 6. Scotty Newton (CVE) 53-11¼ (16.44).

SP: 1. Ryan Crouser (Nik) 74-7¼ (22.74) (WL, AL) (5, =6 W; 2, 2 A) (70-7¾, 69-1¼, 70-7¾, 74-7 PR [WL, AL] [5, =6 W; 2, 2 A], 74-7¼, f) (21.53, 21.06, 21.53, 22.73, 22.74, f);

2. Payton Otterdahl (NDSt) 70-1½ (21.37) out PR (f, 66-7¼, 67-3½, f, 70-1½, 68-8¾) (f, 20.30, 20.51, f, 21.37, 20.95); 3. Tim Nedow’ (Can) 69-6 (21.18) PR; 4. **Tripp Piperi (Tx) 68-11¼ (21.01) PR; 5. Denzel Comenentia’ (Ga) 68-2¼ (20.78); 6. Dotun Ogundeji (UCLA) 67-6¾ (20.59); 7. Jon Jones (CVE) 66-11½ (20.41); 8. **Jonah Wilson (Wa) 64-1¼ (19.54); 9. Matthew Katnik (USC) 63-3½ (19.29).

DT: 1. Brian Williams (Vel) 213-5 (65.04) (187-0, 207-4, f, f, 213-5, f) (57.00, 63.20, f, f, 65.04, f); 2. Reggie Jagers (Iron) 213-4 (65.02) (199-8, 204-1, f, 210-1, 213-4, 212-2) (60.87, 62.20, f, 64.04, 65.02, 64.66); 3. Otterdahl 205-6 (62.64); 4. ***Elijah Mason (Wa) 198-11 (60.65) PR; 5. Ogundeji 198-7 (60.54) PR; 6. Reno Tuufuli (Ia) 198-7 (60.54); 7. Colin Quirke’ (Ire) 194-10 (59.38); 8. Noah Kennedy White (GarS) 191-10 (58.48); 9. Nuermaimaiti Tulake’ (Chn) 191-6 (58.38); 10. Jason Harrell (AreteE) 189-4 (57.70); 11. Abuduaini Tuergong’ (Chn) 188-2 (57.35); 12. ***Austin Glynn (Wi) 187-5 (57.14) PR.

HT: 1. Sean Donnelly (Iron) 253-3 (77.20) PR (AL) (9, x A) (f, 242-4, 250-10, f, f, 253-3) (f, 73.87, 76.46, f, f, 77.20);

2. Alex Young (Vel) 241-9 (73.68); 3. Alan Wolski’ (Bra) 240-7 (73.33); 4. Brock Eager (WaSt) 235-11 (71.90) PR; 5. Colin Dunbar (Iron) 234-5 (71.47); 6. Daniel Roberts (CVE) 229-4 (69.90); 7. Justin Stafford (UCLA) 224-11 (68.57) PR; 8. Silviu Bocancea (Cal) 222-8 (67.86); 9. Glynn 217-5 (66.26) PR.

JT: 1. David Carreon’ (Mex) 240-0 (73.16); 2. Dejan Mileusnic’ (Bos) 237-10 (72.49); 3. Michael Shuey (Vel) 236-6 (72.09); 4. David Ocampo’ (Mex) 230-7 (70.29).

BEACH WOMEN’S RESULTS

(4/19—HT, JT)

100(2.6): 1. Jerayah Davis (Wy) 11.18w.

200: I(1.5)–1. Jaide Stepter (Shef) 22.97; 2. Jasmine Blocker (Ois) 23.39 PR; 3. Courtne Davis (LBSt) 23.46. II(3.0)–1. **Aneesa Scott (NTx) 23.43w.

400: 1. Stepter 52.35.

800: 1. ***Nyjari McNeil (SDi) 2:06.58 PR.

100H(2.2): 1. Erica Bougard (Nik) 13.24w.

400H: 1. *Darhian Mills (Wa) 58.35.

HJ: 1. Bria Palmer (LBSt) 5-10¾ (1.80) =PR.

PV: 1. Olivia Gruver (Wa) 15-3½ (4.66) (x, =8 C) (13-9¾ [2], 14-1¾ [2], 14-5½, 14-9, 15-3½ [3], 15-7¼ CR [xxx]) (4.21 [2], 4.31 [2], 4.41, 4.50, 4.66 [3], 4.76 [xxx]);

2. Bonnie Draxler (SDi) 14-5½ (4.41); 3. tie, Lucy Bryan’ (Akr) & Elleyse Garrett (UCLA) 14-1¾ (4.31) (Garrett PR); 5. *Helen Falda’ (SD) 14-1¾; 6. Megan Clark (Ois) 14-1¾; 7. *Kayla Smith (Ga) 14-1¾; 8. Kathryn Tomczak (AF) 13-9¾ (4.21).

LJ: 1. Davis 21-2½ (6.46) PR; 2. Jasmine Todd (CVE) 21-2 (6.45); 3. Rougui Sow’ (FlSt) 20-9¼ (6.33); 4. Jogaile Petrokaite’ (FlSt) 20-7¾ (6.29).

TJ: 1. Divya Biswal’ (Can) 43-10¾ (13.38) PR; 2. Ja’la Henderson (Wy) 42-6 (12.95).

SP: 1. **Alyssa Wilson (UCLA) 59-1½ (18.02) PR (=CL) (f, 52-1¼, 56-10, 58-8 [out CL], 52-8¼, 59-1½) (f, 15.88, 17.32, 17.88, 16.06, 18.02); 2. *Laulauga Tausaga (Ia) 59-1½ (18.02) PR (CL) (f, f, 53-9, 53-1, 51-8¼, 59-1½) (f, f, 16.38, 16.18, 15.75, 18.02);

3. Amelia Strickler’ (GB) 55-6¼ (16.92); 4. ***Akealy Moton (NDSt) 55-4¼ (16.87); 5. *Nia Britt (Ia) 54-1¾ (16.50); 6. Brenn Flint (UtSt) 53-3½ (16.24); 7. Banke Oginni (Wi) 53-2¾ (16.22); 8. *Bailey Retzlaff (NDSt) 53-1½ (16.19).

DT: 1. Tausaga 204-4 (62.28) PR (CL);

2. Shadae Lawrence’ (CoSt) 202-9 (61.80); 3. Rachel Dincoff (Iron) 197-11 (60.32); 4. Kirsty Law (unat) 189-2 (57.66); 5. Summer Pierson (unat) 188-5 (57.44); 6. Wilson 185-9 (56.63) PR; 7. Kelcey Bedard (CoSt) 185-5 (56.52) PR; 8. Alexa Evans (unat) 182-7 (55.65); 9. Barbara Coward (UCI) 181-8 (55.39); 10. **Konstadina Spanoudakis’ (Ia) 180-3 (54.95); 11. *Kiana Phelps (Or) 176-9 (53.89); 12. *Maria Muzzio (CoSt) 175-1 (53.38); 13. Yuanyuan Yin’ (Chn) 175-1 (53.37); 14. Michelle Wallerstedt (unat) 175-0 (53.35).

HT: 1. Wilson 224-11 (68.56); 2. **Camryn Rogers’ (Cal) 224-8 (68.48) PR; 3. Molli Detloff (ND) 216-10 (66.11); 4. Kelcey Bedard (CoSt) 214-8 (65.43) PR; 5. Onyie Chibuogwu (Wa) 208-3 (63.48) PR; 6. Retzlaff 205-3 (62.56) PR; 7. **Amy Herrington’ (NDSt) 204-3 (62.27).

JT: 1. *Seri Geisler (AzSt) 182-10 (55.73) PR; 2. ***Stella Weinberg’ (CSN) 172-9 (52.67); 3. Mariana Castro’ (Mex) 171-3 (52.20); 4. Bethany Drake (Ois) 170-2 (51.88); 5. **Alexis Rigmaiden (Or) 166-3 (50.68) PR; 6. *Marie-Therese Obst’ (Ga) 165-7 (50.46); 7. **Kari Wolfe (NDSt) 164-1 (50.01). ◻︎

Subscription Options

Digital Only Subscription

  • Access to Current Articles
  • Access to Current Issues
  • eTrack Results Newsletter
  • Unlimited Content from our Technique Journal, Track Coach

$88 per year (recurring)

Digital Only Premium Archive

  • Unlimited Articles
  • Access to Archived Issues
  • eTrack Results Newsletter
  • Unlimited Content from our Technique Journal, Track Coach

$138 per year (recurring)

Print + Digital Subscription

  • Access to Current Articles
  • Access to Current Issues
  • eTrack Results Newsletter
  • Unlimited Content from our Technique Journal, Track Coach
  • 12 Monthly Print Issues

$125.00 USA per year (recurring)
$173.00 Canada per year (recurring)
$223.00 Foreign per year (recurring)

Print + Digital Premium Archive

  • Unlimited Articles
  • Access to Archived Issues
  • eTrack Results Newsletter
  • Unlimited Content from our Technique Journal, Track Coach
  • 12 Monthly Print Issues

$175.00 USA per year (recurring)
$223.00 Canada per year (recurring)
$273.00 Foreign per year (recurring)

Print Only Subscription

  • 12 Monthly Print Issues
  • Does not include online access or eTrack Results Newsletter

$89.00 USA per year (recurring)
$137.00 Canada per year (recurring)
$187.00 Foreign per year (recurring)

Track Coach
(Digital Only)

  • Track Coach Quarterly Technique Journal
  • Access to Track Coach Archived Issues

Note: Track Coach is included with all Track & Field News digital subscriptions. If you are a current T&FN subscriber, purchase of a Track Coach subscription will terminate your existing T&FN subscription and change your access level to Track Coach content only. Track & Field News print only subscribers will need to upgrade to a T&FN subscription level that includes digital access to read Track Coach issues and articles online.

$19.95 every 1 year (recurring)

*Every 30 days