2017 U.S. Track and Field: Crouser Lets One Fly For World's Best SP Toss In 14 Years, Muhammad D
American shot putter Ryan Crouser waves to the crowd on the medal stand at the USA Track and Field Outdoor and Junior Championships. Crouser placed first in the shot put. Publicity Photo Art by T. Ray Harvey. Sacramento State University, Sacramento, Calif.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Sacramento, Calif. –Keni Harrison, who owns the women’s world record in the 100 meters hurdles, clocked a 12.54 mark in the prelims of the USA Track and Outdoor and Junior Championships at Sacramento State University on June 25.
Ryan Crouser and his father used to go over scenarios when he was younger to get a feel of how it would be in a situation that could decide winning or losing in a big event.
In the shot put finals during the 2017 USA Track Outdoor and Junior Championships, Crouser had to use one of those situations if he wanted to win the title and a trip to London for the World Championships.
Joe Kovacs had just tossed a better throw at 22.35 meters to knock Crouser out of first place. It was only a brief moment. On his final throw, The Olympic gold medalist responded by heaving the shot put 74 feet and 3 ¾ inches (22.65 meters) to claim his second U.S. title.
“My dad and I used to play games when I was little,” Crouser said. “He’d say, ‘OK, this is the sixth round of the Olympics, time to get your best throw now.’ I knew I’d need a huge one after Joe’s throw, but once I got in the ring and set up, I knew I was in good position. The throw was actually lower than it should be. I’m sure when we look at the film, we’ll see that I great velocity but not the best launch angle.”
Crouser’s toss turned out to be longest throw in the world since 2003 on top of being a meet record, the highest mark for Sacramento State University’s Hornet Field, and the best throw this year. Crouser now owns the seventh-best throw in the world, overall. He and Kovacs won the gold and silver medals, respectively, in the Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro last summer.
“That was definitely a good one,” Crouser said. “I came in a little more rested than usual, so there was a lot of power there. To throw of 22 meters twice with what were basically off throws is encouraging.”
Men's 110-meter Hurdles, Semifinals.
It was a much better setting without triple-digit temperatures, but mother nature had other ways of affecting the championship. The wind was a factor in the morning and all afternoon during the last day of competition.
From lane 9, Deajah Stevens won women’s 100-meter dash with a time of 22.30 seconds running against the wind. Kimberlyn Duncan finished in second with a time of 22.59, and Tori Bowie placed third at 22.60 seconds.
In the men’s 200-meter dash, Ameer Webb beat Christian Coleman by a tenth of a second at 20.09 seconds facing the wind. Elijah Hall-Thompson’s 20.21 seconds in the event was good enough for third place.
Tyson Gay, 34, who has been dealing with the tragic death of his daughter, came in dead last in the semifinals with a run of 21.37 seconds. Gay’s 15-year-old daughter Trinity was shot and killed outside of a restaurant in Lexington, Ky., last October.
Gay said he was a bit “tired” after placing second in the 200-meter dash prelims on Saturday, but was optimistic going into the final day of activities.
“I’m trying to get in some good speed work,” Gay said June 24 at Sacramento State University. “I hope I can make the team in the 200 meters, so I’m gonna go out there give it my all and see what happens.”
Evan Jager won the the men’s U.S. steeplechase for the sixth time consecutive time in 8 minutes, 16.88 seconds.
Ajee Wilson claimed the women’s 800-meter run U.S title with a clocked time of 1:57.78.
Dalilah Muhammad sixth-best performance in the history of the women’s 400-meter hurdle was done in 52.64 seconds. She claims the U.S. crown for the winning the event, too. Shamier Little finished in second place with a time of 52.75, which gives her an all-time ranking at No. 9.
Donovan Brazier’s run of 1:44.14 in the men’s 800-meter run gives him the U.S. title.
For Complete Day 4 Results of the USATF Outdoor and Junior Championships, visit http://results.usatf.org/
By T. Ray Harvey | PA Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist
Twitter: Tony Ray Harvey @PublicityAgents
Instagram: @arayharvey
T. Ray (Antonio) Harvey is a Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist for Publicity Agents. Harvey is also the author of The HOMICIDAL HANDYMAN OF OAK PARK: MORRIS SOLOMON JR.
