HIS RÉSUMÉ INCLUDED 4 NCAA titles, but Turner Washington had been pipped for this year’s shot crown in the last round. He reversed the tables in the discus with a final throw of 217-3 (66.22) to win. It capped a long road back from a disappointing ’22 outdoor season.
Washington’s main competitor was Cal soph Mykolas Alekna, whose 232-11 (71.00) this year had broken his own CR from last year. Alekna came in as one of the strongest favorites of the meet, just as he had a year ago when he surprisingly ended up 2nd.
When Alekna entered the ring as the first thrower in the second flight, BYU’s Dallin Shurts was leading at 201-0 (61.27). Alekna’s throw was a foul, reaching little more than 190 feet. LSU senior Claudio Romero, the defending champion, threw next and assumed the lead at 204-6 (62.35). But he was passed immediately by Arkansas senior Rojé Stona who reached 205-9 (62.71).
Washington, throwing 10th, put out a smooth line drive to 210-1 (64.03) and led after the first round. Alekna, searching for the wind, lofted a high arcing throw to begin round 2, but it nosedived at less than 190ft and he took an intentional foul. None of the contenders improved in round 2, Washington hitting 191-8 (58.43).
Now needing a solid safe throw to advance, Alekna line-drived a 202-11 (61.86) to move into 4th. Liberty’s Kevin Nedrick dropped Alekna a spot when he reached 203-2 (61.93).
Alekna, now throwing fifth for the final three rounds, was the first thrower to improve his mark, hitting 205-0 (62.49) and moving to 2nd. Romero responded with his best for the day, temporarily moving into 2nd with a 205-7 (62.67). Stona caught a breeze and took the lead with a long cast of 215-0 (65.55).
Washington fouled his fourth throw, and in round 5 none of the four contenders could catch the wind, each of them taking fouls. With everything on the line in the final round, Alekna improved again, but only to 207-6 (63.25), moving up a place to 3rd. Romero fouled to finish 4th, and Stona failed to improve, his disc landing at 207-6 (63.24).
Washington was up for the competition’s last throw, the last throw of his collegiate career. Getting greater height with another line drive, his throw was his winning 217-3 (66.22), and he set off on a joyous sprint toward the grandstand as he ripped off his jersey, an act which got him an official caution for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Washington, who for a time last year indicated he was retiring, talked of his shot loss and his ’22 outdoor season as having provoked a need for redemption. “I think part of the reason of coming back was I needed to leave the sport on a better note, leave a legacy,” he said. “Just being able to come in [after the shot], and dig deeper, thinking, ‘How do you want to go out?’ I don’t want to go out with 64m, I’m not a 64-meter thrower. And I finally showed what I can do.”
MEN’S DISCUS RESULTS
(June 09)
1. Turner Washington (AzSt) 217-3 (66.22) (2, 2 NCAA)
(210-1, 191-8, 210-9, f, f, 217-3) (64.03, 58.43, 64.25, f, f, 66.22);
2. Rojé Stona’ (Ar-Jam) 215-0 (65.55) (7, = 8 NCAA)
(205-9, f, 201-11, 215-0, f, 207-6) (62.71, f, 61.54, 65.55, f, 63.24);
3. **Mykolas Alekna’ (Cal-Lit) 207-6 (63.25)
(f, f, 202-11, 205-0, f, 207-6) (f, f, 61.86, 62.49, f, 63.25);
4. Claudio Romero’ (LSU-Chi) 205-7 (62.67)
(204-6, f, f, 205-7, f, f) (62.35, f, f, 62.67, f, f);
5. Kevin Nedrick’ (Lib-Jam) 203-2 (61.93) PR
(190-2, 198-0, 203-2, 197-4, 197-7, 195-1) (57.96, 60.36, 61.93, 60.15, 60.22, 59.47);
6. Milton Ingraham (FlSt) 201-7 (61.44)
(201-5, 196-2, 200-8, f, 195-1, 201-7) (61.40, 59.80, 61.17, f, 59.47, 61.44);
7. *Dallin Shurts (BYU) 201-0 (61.27)
(201-0, 200-9, 184-8, 191-4, 196-1, 198-9) (61.27, 61.19, 56.29, 58.32, 59.76, 60.59);
8. Elijah Mason (Wa) 200-5 (61.10)
(195-7, 198-11, 198-7, 198-2, 200-5, f) (59.62, 60.63, 60.54, 60.41, 61.10, f);
9. *Alan De Falchi’ (Al-Bra) 198-3 (60.44); 10. Robbie Otal (Duke) 197-1 (60.07); 11. Youssef Koudssi (Az) 195-11 (59.73) PR; 12. *Francois Prinsloo’ (SAl-SA) 193-11 (59.10); 13. *Maxwell Otterdahl (Nb) 192-3 (58.60); 14. *Carlos Aviles’ (OhSt-ElS) 191-11 (58.50); 15. ***Jeremiah Nubbe (Tx) 190-1 (57.94) PR; 16. **Ralford Mullings’ (Ar-Jam) 189-3 (57.68); 17. Zach Gehm (Young) 187-5 (57.12); 18. Jamir Gibson (GaT) 186-2 (56.75); 19. *Devin Roberson (TxT) 185-3 (56.46); 20. Jonah Wilson (Nb) 183-1 (55.81); 21. *Noah Koch (In) 181-9 (55.40); 22. *Anthony Harrison (KennSt) 181-8 (55.37); 23. **Dimítrios Pavlídis’ (Ks-Gre) 178-0 (54.27); 24. ***Zane Forist (Mi) 177-8 (54.17).
(best-ever mark-for-NCAA-place: 3–4, 10)