by Larry Eder
David Storl, 2011 WC Shot Put, gold medalist, photo by PhotoRun.net
The World champs, for USA shotputters, was a bit of a tragedy. With four American shop That took much
more thoughts for others than many of us would have had.
Christian Cantwell, our 2009 World Champion in the shot, had a very
rough day in Daegu. Christian, who had surgery on his non throwing
shoulder, progressed all season, looking very good for the
championships. He threw okay in the qualifying, but a young German, 21
year old David Storl popped a 21.50m throw, Storl’s best ever.
In the final, As Cantwell watched, in the second attempts, David Storl,
at 21, the third youngest competitor in all of the Champs, dropped a
21.60m throw, putting the young German in first place. Cantwell, with
his 20.50m throw in attempt #1, and 20.73m in attempt #2, moved from 4th
to 3rd.
Andrei Miknevich, 2011 WC shot put, bronze, photo by PhotoRun.net
Andrei Mikhnevich of Belarus, in round three moved into the bronze position with a throw of 21.40m.
In round #4, Dylan Armstrong of Canada had taken the lead, pushing Cantwell to fifth place.
Cantwell hit 2083 in #3, fouled in #4 and on his fifth attempt, hit
21.36m, four centimeters behind MIkhnevich, who was in third. Cantwell
had moved back from fifth to fourth. Coul Cantwell pull off a last round
throw, like he has done in the past?
In the sixth round, Cantwell fouled, meaning that he would not defend
his title from 2009. He looked to the sky, forlorn asking silently,
“Why?” and walked away from the shot circle.
David Storl, in second, went into the circle, released and hit a third
pr of the week, throwing 21.78m and taking back over first place!
Dylan Armstrong, 2011 WC Shot put, silver, photo by PhotoRun.net
Dylan Armstrong, who had just taken the lead in round four, now had the
last throw, could he do it? The answer was no. When Armstrong saw his
throw was short, he purposely fouled, just like Cantwell had done.
David Storl became the third youngest winner in Shot put history for
Men. Dylan Armstrong was the silver medalist and Andrei Mikhnevich of
Belarus became the bronze medalist. Christian Cantwell was fourth. Reese
Hoffa was fifth. Reese Hoffa, threw 20.90m, then 20.99m, then 20.97m, then 20.84m, then two fouls. As Cantwell was the 2009 champ, Hoffa was the 2007 champ.
Christian Cantwell, 2011 WC shot put, photo by PhotoRun.net
Ryan Whiting was seventh. Ryan’s series was foul, 20.48m,20.66m, 20.75m, foul, foul . Adam Nelson was eighth. Nelson tried, but he could not call on his 22 meter power that gave his a winning 22.08 m winning throw at the US champs in June 2011. His series was foul, 20.03m, 20.18m, foul, 20.02m, foul. Nelson had won a medal in every global shot put competition between 2000 and 2007, with the 2005 World Champs he took the gold. Nelson had come up dry in 2011.
Reese Hoffa, 2011 WC shot put, photo by PhotoRun.net
For the first time since 1991, the US did not medal in the men’s shot put.
Adam Nelson, 2011 WC shot put, photo by PhotoRun.net
For Christian Cantwell, Reese Hoffa, Adam Nelson and Ryan Whiting, the road to London 2012 began on the shot put
ring in Daegu. American shot putters just don’t medal, (well, since 1991).
