HINDSIGHT MIGHT EVENTUALLY tell us the men’s shot competition represented a changing of the guard. The event has been dominated in this era by two giants, WR holder Ryan Crouser, 32, nursing an elbow injury but holding onto a Wild Card guarantee for Tokyo, and Joe Kovacs, 36, a 2-time world champion. Together they hold 14 medals from Olympics/Worlds as well as 8 of the last 9 USATF outdoor titles.
Yet the event is deep in the United States, and the ambition of their challengers cannot be denied, as this competition proved.
Kovacs, world leader at 73-9 (22.48), led the formchart here. His first throw took the lead at 70-10 (21.59), a mark matched a few throws later by Tripp Piperi, this year’s bronze medalist at the World Indoors.
In round 2, Kovacs broke the tie with a solid 72-5 (22.07). Piperi improved to 71-11 (21.92). Payton Otterdahl moved to 3rd with his 71-4 (21.74).
Kovacs, in round 3, showed consistency with a 72-4½ (22.06). Otterdahl and Piperi both fouled, as did Josh Awotunde, stuck in 4th at 69-2½ (21.09).
In round 4, Awotunde improved to 69-8¾ (21.25) and Otterdahl hit a solid 70-10 (21.59). Then Piperi exploded with a PR 73-1¾ (22.29) that put him ahead of Kovacs, who fell short with his 71-6 (21.79) response.
In the penultimate round, Awotunde improved to 70-7¾ (21.53) while Piperi hit 71-10 (21.89); Otterdahl and Kovacs fouled.
The final round changed everything. Awotunde launched a monster, landing at 73-8¾ (22.47) to take the lead while becoming No. 9 American ever. Then Otterdahl punched a season best 73-4 (22.35) that pushed Kovacs down to 4th. Piperi closed at 71-8 (21.84) to stay in 3rd. Kovacs, in his last-ditch effort, could only reach 72-1¾ (21.99). Roger Steen, at No. 3 on the world list this season, finished 5th at 70-10¾ (21.61).
“This year is the most consistent year I’ve had,” Awotunde said of his preparation. “I’ve been grinding the grindstone day by day.” The scuttlebutt in the throws community is that, having lost sponsor funding, he slogged through injury and turned the corner just 6 weeks before this final.
Of his last-throw PR Awotunde said, “I’ve been doing that for a long time. I can count on my hands the number of last throw/best throws that felt effortless.”
Now 30, Awotunde, the bronze medalist at the ’22 Worlds, calls himself a veteran, but said, “Shot put’s in a great spot right now. The U.S. is leading the way.”
With Otterdahl, 29, and Piperi, 26, Awotunde will head to Tokyo, where all of them are hoping to make the podium, along with reigning champion Crouser.
MEN’S SHOT RESULTS
(August 03)
1. Josh Awotunde (Shore) 73-8¾ (22.47) PR (9, x A)
(69-2½, f, f, 69-8¾, 70-7¾, 73-8¾) (21.09, f, f, 21.25, 21.53, 22.47);
2. Payton Otterdahl (Asics) 73-4 (22.35)
(69-5½, 71-4, f, 70-10, f, 73-4) (21.17, 21.74, f, 21.59, f, 22.35);
3. Tripp Piperi (unat) 73-1¾ (22.29) PR
(70-10, 71-11, f, 73-1¾, 71-10, 71-8) (21.59, 21.92, f, 22.29, 21.89, 21.84);
4. Joe Kovacs (Nik) 72-5 (22.07)
(70-10, 72-5, 72-4½, 71-6, f, 72-1¾) (21.59, 22.07, 22.06, 21.79, f, 21.99);
5. Roger Steen (Velaasa) 70-10¾ (21.61)
(66-9¾, 67-9¾, 68-4½, 70-2¼, f, 70-10¾) (20.36, 20.67, 20.84, 21.39, f, 21.61);
6. Jordan Geist (IronW) 70-½ (21.35)
(67-9½, f, 68-5¼, f, f, 70-½) (20.66, f, 20.86, f, f, 21.35);
7. Daniel McArthur (unat) 65-10½ (20.08); 8. Jordan West (unat) 64-11¼ (19.79); 9. T’Mond Johnson (unat) 64-7¾ (19.70); 10. Nik Curtiss (unat) 63-8¾ (19.42); 11. Tyler Sudduth (Il) 63-3¼ (19.28); 12. Jason Swarens (unat) 62-11½ (19.19); 13. Thomas Kitchell (unat) 61-8¼ (18.80); 14. Lucas Warning (GarS) 61-1½ (18.63);
… 3f—Zach Landa (Az), Myles Kerner (GVal).
