by Larry Eder
Dylan Armstrong, photo by PhotoRun.net
On a glorious early summer afternoon, a crowd of about a thousand track fans and dignitaries enjoyed a fun men’s shot competition. Fbk Hengelo hosted their first out of stadium shot put competition. Under the city tower, which dates back to the sixteenth century, a shot ring, fitted to the pleasure of the throwers, gave the throwers a fast surface. Fans were along the right and left sectors, standing on the right, with benches on the left. Sponsors and VIPs were treated to a nice stand at the 30 meter mark, out of the long arms of Dylan Armstrong and Tomasz Majewski.
Tomasz Majewski, the 2008 Olympic champ, had thrown 21.01m on Friday night, taking second. Dylan Armstrong, the 2011 Wc silver medalist, and a Canadian on top of that, won in Ostrava on Friday, with a throw of 21.29m.
After that, several of the shot putters drove to Vienna, then flew to Amsterdam, then drove two hours to Hengelo, getting in about three am. Asmir Kolasinic, from Serbia, had done Jamaica om 10 May, then flew to Shanghai for the May 19 meeting, and now, Hengelo. Tomasz Majewski, one of the mellowest guys on the circuit, just looked beat two hours before throwing 20.85 meters, as we grabbed lunch in a local hotel.
Watching them throw is always a revelation of some degree. Dylan Armstrong is the Canadian version of Adam Nelson. Armstrong is built like a brick house, and he is fast in the ring. Make no bones about it, shot putters are fast. They could make American footballers look really foolish.
Armstrong won today with a throw of 21.44m, second farthest in the world. Afterwards, he was interviewed by the announcer. When asked what he needed to do for London, Armstrong said “I need to throw over 22 meters.” And then, the announcer noted, ” In London, you will have to watch out for all of the Americans.” Armstrong interjected, ” I will have to watch out for everybody.”
Justin Rohde, a young thrower from Canada, showing much promise, threw 20.85m in Ostrava. Today, all he could muster was 19.38m.
Dylan Armstrong of Canada threw 21.44m for the win. Tomasz Majewski threw 20.87m for the second place. Rutger Smith, the local star, and European medalist, was third in 20.30m. Asmir Kolasnic of Serbia, threw 19.93m for fourth. Justin Rodhe of Canada threw 19.38m, throwing into the left sector foul area, Justin woke up an official who nearly lost a prized body part with a sector foul.Nedyad Mulabegovac of Croatia, threw 19.32m for sixth. Mikael Stamatayiannis of Greece threw 19.18m for seventh. Erik Vreumingan, also of the Netherlands threw 19 meters, for eighth.
All in all, a nice way to spend an afternoon. Then, of course, a nice walk around the city center, finding a place for a cool adult beverage.
26/05/2012
Fanny Blankers-Koen Games
Hengelo, 26/05/2012
Men’ results
Shot Put – Men
1 Armstrong , Dylan CAN 21.44
2 Majewski , Tomasz POL 20.87
3 Smith , Rutger NED 20.30
4 Kolašinac , Asmir SRB 19.93
5 Rodhe , Justin CAN 19.38
6 Mulabegovic , Nedžad CRO 19.32
7 Stamatóyiannis , MihaÃÂl GRE 19.18
8 van Vreumingen , Erik NED 19.00
