AS THE WOMEN’S shot qualifying began on Friday evening, more than half the field – 13 of the 24 – were 60-footers, once a threshold for greatness in the event. The biggest news in the qualifying was the reemergence of Raven Saunders, returning from an 18-month whereabouts suspension. Wearing their signature purple Raven mask, Saunders put 64-1¼ (19.54), their best in three years.
Chase Jackson (née Ealey), the reigning world champion, led the way at 64-6 (19.66), but this was after all the Olympic Trials, a competition in which she had already come up short twice — 5th in 2021, 7th in ’16. At 29, she was beginning to run out of chances.
Saunders, a year younger, had already made two teams, at 20 in ’16, then silver in Tokyo.
The 12 finalists included all four of the women who kept Jackson out of the Games three years ago — Jessica Ramsey (66-¼/20.12 PR), Adelaide Aquilla (64-5¼/19.64), defending USA titlist Maggie Ewen (67-1¼/20.45) and Saunders. A lot of firepower. Plus the new kid on the block, 22-year-old Jaida Ross of the host Oregon Ducks, who thrice broke the CR this spring, topping out at 65-7¾ (20.01).
In Saturday’s final, Saunders quickly took command, her 65-3½ (19.88) just 2½ inches (8cm) off her PR from ’21. Ross went to 2nd at 64-3¾ (19.60) while Jackson nervously had a shaky 4th 61-11 (18.87) after the first three rounds.
In round 4, Jackson found her rhythm, going 65-11½ (20.10), the native of Los Alamos, New Mexico, pumping her fists in celebration. She had made the team — 20-meter-plus throws being the rare currency that they are. No one else mounted a challenge for the three spots, though Saunders improved to 65-3½ (19.90) in frame 6.
Jackson and Ross claimed their first Olympic berths, Saunders their third, as America’s shot putters on the women’s side have taken preeminence globally. Only three putters have thrown farther in 2024 than the U.S. threesome.
Winner Jackson admitted the painful disappointment of ’21 had motivated her. “It’s been in the back of my head for years now,“ she said. “You know, I’ve had that black medal from Tokyo Trials for years now just haunting me, hanging it up and just making sure I’m not going to do it again. I made sure not to do it again.”
WOMEN’S SHOT RESULTS
FINAL (June 29)
1. Chase Jackson (Nike) 65-11½ (20.10)
(f, 61-11, f, 65-11½, 64-5, f) (f, 18.87, f, 20.10, 19.63, f);
2. Raven Saunders (Nike) 65-3½ (19.90)
(65-2¾, f, f, f, f, 65-3½) (19.88, f, f, f, f, 19.90);
3. Jaida Ross (Or) 64-3¾ (19.60)
(63-7½, 64-3¾, 64-¼, f, 62-11½, 60-2½) (19.39, 19.60, 19.51, f, 19.19, 18.35);
4. Adelaide Aquilla (unat) 62-1 (18.92)
(f, 60-11¼, 62-1, f, 61-4, f)(f, 18.57, 18.92, f, 18.69, f);
5. Jessica Ramsey (adidas) 61-8½ (18.81)
(59-4¼, 60-9¼, 61-8½, f, f, f) (18.09, 18.52, 18.81, f, f, f);
6. Maggie Ewen (Nike) 61-1¼ (18.62)
(58-7½, 61-1¼, 60-3, 59-2¾, 60-1¼, f) (17.87, 18.62, 18.36, 18.05, 18.32, f);
7. KeAyla Dove (unat) 60-4 (18.39)
(56-2½, 56-9½, 59-10½, 60-4, 59-1¼, 58-7¼) (17.13, 17.31, 18.25, 18.39, 18.01, 17.86);
8. Jessica Woodard (IronW) 60-3¼ (18.37)
(60-3, 60-2½, f, 60-3¼, f, f) (18.36, 18.35, f, 18.37, f, f);
9. Gabby McDonald Morris (CoSt) 58-11¼ (17.96); 10. Jalani Davis (Ms) 58-7¼ (17.86); 11. Akaoma Odeluga (Ms) 56-½ (17.08); 12. Mya Lesnar (CoSt) 55-¼ (16.77).
QUALIFYING (June 28)
Qualifiers: Jackson 64-6 (19.66), Saunders 64-1¼ (19.54), Ross 63-10¼ (19.46), Aquilla 63-2 (19.25), Ewen 60-9¼ (18.52), Woodard 59-11¾ (18.28), Dove 59-8½ (18.20), Odeluga 59-5¾ (18.13), Davis 59-3½ (18.07), Ramsey 59-2 (18.03), McDonald Morris 59-¾ (18.00), Lesnar 58-1 (17.70);
Non-qualifiers: Mye’Joi Williams (Al) 57-8¼ (17.58), Veronica Fraley (Vand) 57-3¾ (17.47), Mensi Stiff (Ms) 57-¼ (17.38), Latavia Maines (unat) 56-10¼ (17.33), Jayden Ulrich (Louis) 56-8 (17.27), Chrystal Herpin (Tx) 56-5¼ (17.20), Hannah-Sophia Hall (unat) 56-2½ (17.13), Cierra Jackson (Fres) 56-2 (17.12), Rachel Fatherly (GarS) 55-5 (16.89), Khayla Dawson (unat) 55-3¾ (16.86), Marilyn Nwora (Tx) 54-2¾ (16.53), Monique Riddick (unat) 53-9 (16.38).