Mike Fanelli wrote this piece on the Shot put and the incredible day 3. Check out Mike Fanelli’s Facebook page for daily track geek and Track Garage updates!
SHOT HEARD AROUND THE WORLD
By Mike Fanelli
Championship-level track & field is nearly always laden with extraordinary elations as well as gut-wrenching tribulations. Day three of these World Athletics Championships evidenced both. Fortunately for athletes and fans alike, there were more tears of joy than frustration.
In a disappointing turn of events during the men’s 110-meter hurdles, pre-race favorite Devon Allen was disqualified from the finals for flinching in the starting blocks. His reaction time while awaiting the starter’s pistol was electronically registered as being .001 of a second too soon. Know that the official decision-makers on the infield were peppered with a deluge of boos when announcing the disqualification of the former Oregon Duck, Allen.
Meanwhile, his American compatriots, Grant Holloway and Trey Cunningham, successfully navigated all barriers, landing them in the top two podium spots with times of 13.03 and 13.08, respectively. While quite brisk, those times pale compared to the 12.89 mark that Devon Allen turned in at NYC Grand Prix Meeting last month.
Then there were the green and yellow clad speed queens in the women’s 100 meters. It was no surprise in that contest when the three Jamaican standouts swept the medal race in the metric century.
The competition itself was a mere formality as to which finishing order permutation would be registered.
Thirty-five-year-old sprint Grand Dame Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce led the charge in 19.67, with Shericka Jackson on her heels at 19.73, and Elaine Thompson-Herah grabbed bronze at 10.81…just .14 of a second separating the Islanders.
History was made in the men’s shot put competition when for the first time ever, athletes from a single nation went 1-2-3.
With a heave of 22.94 (75’ 3 1/4”) on his final attempt, world record holder and Oregon native Ryan Crouser clinched World Championships gold, a medal that heretofore had eluded him. Taking second with a 22.89 (75’ 1 1/4”) toss, compatriot Joe Kovacs earned the silver ducat. Surprise upstart from the great Garden State of New Jersey, Josh Awotunde threw not one but two personal bests. His last put was his very best, measuring 22.29 (73’ 1 3/4”)…good enough to grab the third podium spot.
