WISCONSIN SENIOR Jason Swarens arrived in Eugene with the year’s longest mark, an early May 70-1½ (21.37. Second last year with a PR throw, and 3rd at this year’s NCAA Indoor, he was intensely focused on this, his last chance.
Ole Miss junior Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan hadarrived in Eugene seeking his fourth consecutive title. The indoor and outdoor winner last year, and the indoor champ again this season, he was undefeated through 10 outings in ’25, with a new PR of 69-3¼ (21.11). The ’22 World U20 champion is a versatile and very consistent competitor.
North Carolina senior Thomas Kitchell took an early lead in round 1 with a 65-11¾ (20.11), before Swarens popped a 66-2¼ (20.17) in round 2.
In the next round, South Carolina senior Christopher Licata moved into 3rd with his own 20.11, and TR-O launched a 65-11½ (20.10) sufficient for 4th. Earlier in the afternoon, he had twice improved his PR in the hammer final, finishing 3rd with the longest mark for that place in meet history.
The 9 top throwers assembled for their final three tries, and TR-O took a quick lead with his 66-8¾ (20.34), which he extended to 66-11½ (20.41) in round 5. Oregon frosh Kobe Lawrence hit a big PR 66-8 (20.32); he was now 2nd, but only briefly.
Round 6: Fireworks! The order was TR-O, Lawrence, Swarens, Licata, Kitchell. Lawrence and Licata did not improve. Conscious of his narrow lead but perhaps fatigued from his earlier efforts, TR-O put everything into his last attempt… and stepped out the front of the ring.
He could only watch as Kitchell flung the ball 68-½ (20.74), an outdoor PR by nearly 2ft, to snatch away the victory. Then the massive Swarens, up for the last throw of his collegiate career, settled the issue with a 69-8 (21.23) put, ending the competition.
“I knew it was coming,” said the winner. “I knew it was going to take 21 to win today. And going into that last throw, I hit that number. My whole family’s been Badger fans for life. It’s a dream come true: I’ve gotten 4th, 3rd, 2nd, so I had to finish off that quad with a 1st-place win.”
MEN’S SHOT RESULTS
FINAL (June 11)
1. Jason Swarens (Wi) 69-8 (21.23)
(63-11¾, 66-2¼, 65-1¼, f, 65-7½, 69-8) (19.50, 20.17, 19.84, f, 20.00, 21.23);
2. Thomas Kitchell (NC) 68-½ (20.74) PR
(65-11¾, 62-5¼, f, f, f, 68-½) (20.11, 19.03, f, f, f, 20.74);
3. *Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan (Ms) 66-11½ (20.41)
(f, 63-10¼, 65-11½, 66-8¾, 66-11½, f) (f, 19.46, 20.10, 20.34, 20.41, f);
4. ***Kobe Lawrence’ (Or-Jam) 66-8 (20.32) PR
(63-9, 63-10½, 64-5¾, 65-3½, 66-8, 65-3¼) (19.43, 19.47, 19.65, 19.90, 20.32, 19.89);
5. Christopher Licata (SC) 66-1½ (20.15)
(64-10, 65-2, 65-11¾, 66-1½, 65-4, 65-7½) (19.76, 19.86, 20.11, 20.15, 19.91, 20.00);
6. Danny Bryant (BYU) 64-8 (19.71)
(64-8, 60-7¼, 62-2½, f, f, f) (19.71, 18.47, 18.96, f, f, f);
7. Dylan Targgart (SC) 63-11 (19.48)
(60-8¾, 63-11, 63-7½, f, 62-11¼, f) (18.51, 19.48, 19.39, f, 19.18, f);
8. Fred Moudani Likibi’ (Cinc-Fra) 63-9½ (19.44)
(f, 62-11½, 63-9½, 61-9¾, 62-1, 61-4¼) (f, 19.19, 19.44, 18.84, 18.92, 18.70);
9. Joseph White (Wi) 63-4 (19.30); 10. Zach Landa (Az) 62-6 (19.05); 11. *Bryce Foster (Ks) 62-2½ (18.96); 12. *Christopher Crawford’ (Al-Tri) 62-1¾ (18.94); 13. *Joe Licata (Prin) 62-1¼ (18.93); 14. *Trevor Gunzell’ (Al-Jam) 62-½ (18.91); 15. Alexander Kolesnikoff’ (Ga-Aus) 61-6¼ (18.75); 16. ***Jacob Cookinham (Ks) 61-4¼ (18.70); 17. Obiora Okeke (Col) 61-2¼ (18.65); 18. Cam Jones (IaSt) 61-1¼ (18.62); 19. Maxwell Otterdahl (Nb) 60-10½ (18.55); 20. ***Joshua Huisman (Mi) 60-1¾ (18.33); 21. *Tucker Smith (Ok) 59-11 (18.26); 22. Daniel Reynolds (Wy) 58-5¾ (17.82);… 3f—*Sascha Schmidt (Mem), **David Wilson (TxT).
