by Larry Eder
Ryan Whiting, photo by PhotoRun.net
Christian Cantwell, photo by PhotoRun.net
Original post, February 2, 2015
New Post, January 15, 2019
The New Balance Indoor GP has been around for 24 years now. One of the finest events on the circuit, NB Indoor GP will be held January 26, 2019, at the Reggie Lewis Center, in Roxbury, MA near Boston, MA. This is the ONLY stop of the IAAF Indoor World Circuit in US, and you should not miss it! Tickets for the event on January 26, which forms part of the IAAF World Indoor Tour, are now on sale at www.nbindoorgrandprix.com or by calling 1-877-849-8722.
On Saturday night, February 7, at the 2015 New Balance Indoor GP, two of the finest shot putters in the world, Ryan Whiting and Christian Cantwell, will be throwing a sixteen pound ball in the Reggie Lewis Center. Some people watch Monster Truck races. I want Big Guys throw sixteen pound steel balls (well, indoors they have a covering).
Throw fans are a special crowd. They realize that, throwing the shot put, for men and women, is a rarefied talent. Throwing those shots over sixty feet for women and seventy feet for men is an even smaller group than men who have broke four minutes in the mile and women who have gone sub 4:05 in the 1,500 meters!
Christian Cantwell is massive, and fast. Don’t let anyone confuse you. The shot put is all about the speed! Whether you spin or glide, the shot put is an event where speed, agility and strength meet their match.
There is a video on You Tube of Christian Cantwell lifting over five hundred pounds. Cantwell, like all great shot putters knows when he is on and knows when he is off. A consomate competitor, Christian has won three World indoor World championships, a gold and bronze in World Outdoor Championships and an Olympic silver from the 2008 Olympics.In 2012, Christian took fourth in the London Olympics. At six foot five, and 340 lbs. (closer to 320 when he is throwing well), Christian is a technician and a competitor. He does not like to loose and gets himself pretty focused during the competition. Coming back from surgery and injuries, Christian is throwing well, just having returned from Europe.
Ryan Whiting is the new kid on the block. In 2012 in Istanbul, Ryan won the World Indoor Champs for the first time. IN 2012 at the London Olypmics, Whiting took ninth in the final . He placed second in Moscow in 2013 and in 2014, defended his 2012 World indoor title.
Whiting is six foot three and just under three hundred pounds. In May 2013, I was in Doha, Qatar and watched in amazement as Ryan threw 22.28 meters. For those who still do not understand metric conversions, that is 73 feet, 1 and 11/64 of an inch!
Ryan uses the spin like Cantwell, but that is where the comparison ends. Ryan Whiting is a bit more explosive in his throwing. Indoors, in February 2014, Ryan threw 22.23 meters.
Christian Cantwell has more power to harness. When his spin is on, no one can touch him. Cantwell is a perfectionist and he knows right away when his throw is not going to do what he wants. Watch Cantwell when it is a good throw and also watch when it has not gone well.
These guys are searching for the perfect throw. Hopefully, you will be watching!
What I enjoy most about the shot putters, is how most of them get along. A few years ago, I watched a street shot put in Hengelo, Holland. Tomasz Majewski, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Champ, Christian Cantwell, Dylan Armstrong, Olympic bronze medalist, were among the field of twelve who threw the shot in the city center, then, competed over indoor golf, darts, foosball and several other sports all afternoon and into the night. These guys like to compete over everything.
Christian Cantwell has thrown a massive 22.54 meters or 73-11 1/2 inches.
Recently, Ryan Whiting threw the world leader at 21.20m (69 feet, six plus inches) and Christian Cantwell recently threw 20.71 (67 feet, eleven inches).
Throwing the shot put far makes a wonderful thud indoors! It is part of what I like about the event, as well as guys like Cantwell and Whiting, when they let their throws fly, really making some great grunts.
Watch Ryan Whiting and Christian Cantwell, along with the rest of the Men’s shot put field on Saturday night, February 7 at the Reggie Lewis Center. It is part of the wonderfully exciting three ring circus that is indoor track & field!
