U.S. Men’s Indoor Athlete Of The Year — Ryan Crouser
March-April 2020by T&FN
A near-World Record by Ryan Crouser in the shot earned him U.S. Men’s AOY honors. (KEVIN MORRIS)
A TRIO OF UNDEFEATED performers fought it out for the title of U.S. Men’s Indoor AOY, with the nod going to shot putter Ryan Crouser, whose 74-1¾ (22.60) to win the USATF title moved him to No. 2 on the all-time world list, just 2½ inches off the World Record. He also produced the Nos. 7 & =8 performances in U.S. history, reaching 72-9¾ (22.19) to win Millrose and 72-9¼ (22.18) in his Albuquerque series.
Honorable Mention to Donavan Brazier and Christian Coleman. Reigning No. 1 Brazier had two brilliant races, running 1:14.39 for the No. 2 time ever in the 600 (trailing only his own WR set last year) and 1:44.22 to become No. 5 world ever in the 800. Two-time No. 1 Coleman had only a single meet, USATF, where he cranked off an altitude-aided 6.37 in the 60 to equal the No. 2 time ever, just 0.03 off his WR from 2 years ago.
Previous U.S. Men’s Indoor Athletes Of The Year
Previous winners Donavan Brazier and Christian Coleman had great ’20 campaigns, but Ryan Crouser slipped ahead of both of them. Our winners in this century:
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