WITH 5 NON-SENIORS finishing in the top 8 in last year’s hammer final and ’23 runner-up Kostas Záltos of Minnesota returning after a redshirt season, this year’s comp promised to be a rager.
Then, stuff happened. In April, Nikolaos Polychroniou (246-10/75.24 PR) — 5th in ’23 and ’24 for USC, decided to take his talents to the Portal. Harvard’s Kenneth Ikeji (255-8/77.92 PR), the ‘23 champ and ‘24 runner-up, ended his season and career in early May, reportedly out of respect for his parents who did not want him to miss his graduation ceremony to compete in the East Regional. Finally, Trey Knight of Cal State Northridge (255-7/77.91m PR) posted three fouls at the West Regional and failed to advance.
With those gents absent, the comp played out as a tight contest between three highly skilled competitors: Záltos, his Greek roommate Ángelos Mantzouránis and Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan of Ole Miss, the defending NCAA shot champ indoors and out who arrived in Eugene with a hammer PR of 248-5 (75.72) and a history of throwing big when it counts.
The leader in the clubhouse after flight 1 was Cal Poly’s Rory Devaney, who chose an auspicious moment to add nearly 4 meters to his PR, raising it to 243-4 (74.16). He was brought back to earth quickly, though, as flight 2 began and Robinson-O’Hagan (248-1/75.62), Záltos (252-4/76.92), and Mantzouránis (252-6/76.84) each jumped him on their first attempts
Záltos, who had placed 3rd, 3rd, and 2nd in his previous NCAA outings, extended his lead with a third-round toss of 253-2 (77.18), while Mantzouránis and Robinson-O’Hagan struggled to find a groove. Mantzouránis had PRed in April with a monster 257-11 (78.61) effort at the “Meet of the UnSaintly” in St. Paul, and apparently reached a similar distance on a warmup attempt in Eugene, but in rounds 2 and 3 he did not improve. Nor did Robinson-O’Hagan, who looked jumpy while rifling his second throw into the cage and his third out of bounds to the right.
After improving to 251-4 (76.61) in round 4, however, Robinson-O’Hagan gave a thumbs up to his coaches, apparently signaling that he’d found his form. When Mantzouránis, following TR-O in the order, reached 252-6 (76.96), Záltos must have felt the squeeze and he responded with a PR of 256-2 (78.08) that held up for the win, in spite of Robinson-O’Hagan’s nailing a PR of his own, 251-11 (76.78), in round 5.
“It’s my last ride with the University of Minnesota and being a Gopher,” Záltos reflected afterwards. “I was very excited to compete. Technically, I didn’t throw as well today as the day before, but I’m very satisfied. I PRed again, so I can’t complain. I finally won after my fourth time being here, so I’m happy. I’m also very happy for my teammate, too.”
Both Gophers will now head back to Greece, where they hope to earn spots in the WC.
Robinson-O’Hagan, meanwhile, headed off to find some shade before trying to defend his shot title later in the evening.
Texas Tanner, an Air Force cadet who has the name and looks to someday join the Marvel Universe, took 4th with 246-9 (75.22).
MEN’S HAMMER RESULTS
(June 11)
1. Kostas Záltos’ (Mn-Gre) 256-2 (78.08) (6, x C)
(252-4, 251-8, 253-2, 256-2, f, f) (76.92, 76.72, 77.18, 78.08, f, f);
2. **Ángelos Mantzouránis’ (Mn-Gre) 252-6 (76.96)
(252-1, 247-3, 251-6, 252-6, f, 252-4) (76.84, 75.36, 76.66, 76.96, f, 76.92);
3. *Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan (Ms) 251-11 (76.78) PR (4, x AmC)
(248-1, f, f, 251-4, 251-11, 247-11) (75.62, f, f, 76.61, 76.78, 75.58);
4. *Texas Tanner (AF) 246-9 (75.22)
(235-6, 234-9, 246-9, f, 232-11, 233-1) (71.79, 71.57, 75.22, f, 71.01, 71.04);
5. *Rory Devaney (SLO) 243-4 (74.16) PR
(226-0, 243-4, 235-4, 232-6, 237-6, 231-6) (68.89, 74.16, 71.74, 70.88, 72.39, 70.57);
6. **Ryan Johnson (Ia) 235-11 (71.91)
(235-11, 226-0, f, 230-8, 228-4, 220-6) (71.91, 68.90, f, 70.30, 69.60, 67.22);
7. Daniel Reynolds (Wy) 228-7 (69.68)
(225-5, f, 222-3, 228-7, 218-11, f) (68.72, f, 67.75, 69.68, 66.73, f);
8. **Christian Toro (Duke) 226-2 (68.94)
(226-2, 223-8, 224-10, 213-0, 223-4, 221-11) (68.94, 68.19, 68.52, 64.93, 68.07, 67.65);
9. Kyle Brown (Aub) 226-1 (68.91) PR; 10. Travis Martin (SLO) 224-1 (68.31); 11. *Sean Smith (Ia) 222-5 (67.81); 12. Jake Dalton (Ms) 222-5 (67.79); 13. *Bryson Smith (Ms) 222-5 (67.79); 14. Kyle Moison (Aub) 219-3 (66.84); 15. *Keyandre Davis (Va) 217-4 (66.24); 16. Cole Hooper (Wi) 216-6 (65.98); 17. ***Igor Olaru’ (Bay-Mol) 216-5 (65.96); 18. *Alex Bernstein’ (DeP-GB) 215-6 (65.69); 19. **Noa Isaia (ArSt) 213-6 (65.08); 20. Orry Willems (Cinc) 212-7 (64.81); 21. Sean Mockler’ (In-Ire) 210-2 (64.07); 22. *Mason Hickel (Ms) 209-0 (63.71); 23. Alex Kristeller (Man) 200-4 (61.07); 24. **Kellen Kimes (Lib) 199-0 (60.67).
