MISSISSIPPI SOPH Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan is rapidly creating an impressive résumé. The ’22 World Junior champion, he has evolved enough with the big ball to win the NCAA Indoor this year with a PR 69-¾ (21.05) toss. Only 7 Americans, including pros, have thrown farther outdoors in ’24. He is still only 20.
His primary challengers here were expected to be a pair of South Carolina juniors, Christopher Licata and Dylan Targgart, both of whom had recorded 67-foot marks this outdoor season.
TRO first merited attention for his HS hammer prowess, and he contested the final in that event only four hours prior to commencing the shot put. He finished 7th there in a very high-quality competition with a new PR of 238-10 (72.81).
Wisconsin junior Jason Swarens made his presence known with some rather long warmup throws. Targgart began the competition with a 65-2¼ (19.87) mark. Then it was TRO’s turn. Spinning very fast in the ring, he launched a 67-0 (20.42) mark that no one else would exceed on this day.
Swarens moved to 2nd in round 2 with his 66-10½ (20.38), but with two fouls and two 19-meter marks, that was as close as he came. Targgart reached 66-4½ (20.23) in round 4, good for 3rd.
BYU junior Danny Bryant hit a PR 65-8¼ (20.02) on his final throw to place 4th, ahead of another PR, by Clemson junior Courtney Lawrence, 65-4¼ (19.92).
With victory assured after two additional 20-meter throws and two fouls, TRO got the crowd involved for his finale, raising his arms as he entered the ring and then unloading an outdoor PR of 68-6 (20.88) to close the most productive evening of his career.
“I do focus on both hammer and shot, but the shot is really my thing,” said the now-double NCAA champion. “Last summer, I went to the U.S. Nationals, and it was fun watching the shot putters. I learned a lot from watching them. We got here about 10:00 this morning to get ready for the hammer, so by the time the shot started, I was a little fatigued, but it all worked, I got the meet winner on my first throw and then my best on the final. In between, I got a little Hawai‘ian food.”
Runner-up Swarens said, “I had a good throw on my first attempt, which was nice. With that big break, it’s tough to maintain focus.”
MEN’S SHOT RESULTS
(June 05)
SP: 1. **Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan (Ms) 68-6 (20.88) out PR
(67-0, f, 66-10½, f, 66-3, 68-6) (20.42, f, 20.38, f, 20.19, 20.88);
2. *Jason Swarens (Wi) 66-10½ (20.38)
(64-2½, 66-10½, f, f, 65-1¼, 62-8¾) (19.57, 20.38, f, f, 19.84, 19.12);
3. *Dylan Targgart (SC) 66-4½ (20.23)
(65-2¼, f, 66-3, 64-6½, 66-4½, 65-3½) (19.87, f, 20.19, 19.67, 20.23, 19.90);
4. *Danny Bryant (BYU) 65-8¼ (20.02) PR
(59-1½, 59-3, 64-5¾, f, f, 65-8¼) (18.02, 18.06, 19.65, f, f, 20.02);
5. *Courtney Lawrence’ (Clem-Jam) 65-4¼ (19.92) PR
(62-8½, 63-11, 65-4¼, 60-8, 62-1, f) (19.11, 19.48, 19.92, 18.49, 18.92, f);
6. Alexander Kolesnikoff’ (Ga-Aus) 64-7¾ (19.70)
(64-7¾, 62-10, 63-5½, f, f, 63-6) (19.70, 19.15, 19.34, f, f, 19.35);
7. Tyler Sudduth (Il) 64-6½ (19.67)
(61-9, 64-6½, f, 61-9¾, f, f) (18.82, 19.67, f, 18.84, f, f);
8. Kevin Shubert (Nb) 64-5 (19.63)
(62-9¼, f, 64-5, 62-¼, 61-8¼, f) (19.13, f, 19.63, 18.90, 18.80, f);
9. John Meyer (LSU) 64-½ (19.52)
(64-½, 62-3¼, 63-9½, f, 63-6¼, f) (19.52, 18.98, 19.44, f, 19.36, f);
10. *Cam Jones (IaSt) 63-4 (19.30); 11. ***Roury McCloyen (MsSt) 62-9½ (19.14); 12. Hayden Tobias (OhSt) 62-6 (19.05); 13. Jeff Duensing (Cal) 62-3¾ (18.99); 14. Patrick Piperi (Tx) 62-3 (18.97); 15. Chris Van Niekerk’ (HPt-SA) 61-9 (18.82); 16. *Christopher Licata (SC) 61-7¾ (18.79); 17. Mariano Kis’ (CoSt-Arg) 61-7 (18.77); 18. ***Trey Wilson (TxT) 61-6¾ (18.76); 19. Joshua Boamah (Navy) 60-1¾ (18.33); 20. Diego Trevino (Ok) 59-11 (18.26); 21. Amiri Buchanan (IlSt) 58-10 (17.93); 22. **Matthew Rueff (Aub) 58-1¾ (17.72); 23. *Brandon Lloyd’ (AzSt-Jam) 57-4¾ (17.49);… 3f—Michael Shoaf (NDm).