Pre Classic Men’s Shot Put Preview, by Kara Winger

Photo by Jason Suarez

Hi folks! Kara Winger, TrackTown USA official Throws Ambassador, here. I’m so excited to be in Eugene for this year’s Pre Classic, and wanted to get my thoughts on this year’s shot put field down on paper.

The Prefontaine Classic this year is the very first stop on the Diamond League tour for the men’s shot put, and the whole world is chomping at the bit to see Ryan Crouser begin his outdoor season amidst the massive throws from Leonardo Fabbri of Italy (who isn’t coming to Pre, but deserves a mention in shot putting right now), Joe Kovacs’ statement series from the USATF LA Grand Prix, and Payton Otterdahl’s slew of 22m meets so far in 2024. But the world will have to keep waiting for Ryan to start! The way that Joe, Payton, and Leo are stacking up their career 22m marks, though, is impressive from a bottom number standpoint, which points all signs to higher top numbers as well. Hayward Field is where a lot of shotput history has been written in recent years: A U.S. podium sweep at Oregon 2022, Ryan’s demolition of Randy Barnes’ world record with 23.37m at the 2021 Olympic Trials, followed closely by his Pre Classic meet record of 23.15m just after Tokyo, as well as significant moments for Payton (getting over 22m for the first time) and Joe (taking Ryan down by 2cm to win last year’s Diamond League trophy, plus making every team ever out of this ring). It, frankly, sucks that Ryan won’t be here this weekend, but he’s someone who knows when he’s ready to put on a show, and both he and his competitors will be ready for him when the time is right. 

Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and Roger Steen threw the exact same distance at last week’s USATF LA Grand Prix, and both looked happy with the improvements in their outdoor seasons. Roger broke the 22m barrier in 2023, putting the shot 22.08m at the Tucson Elite meet, and has been stacking up 21-mid results ever since, grabbing a spot on his first World Team for the U.S. this indoor season in Glasgow. Chuk has yet to break the 22m mark, but his 21.78m in LA was a mere two centimeters shy of his own Nigerian National Record, so great things could come from that momentum this weekend in Eugene. A Tokyo Olympic finalist, Chuk has put himself in good positions in major finals for years, preparing for a breakthrough. If Roger can manage a great result in the ring at Hayward Field this weekend, he’ll set himself up well for one of the most competitive events in American track and field at Olympic Trials next month. 

Jamaican National Record holder (indoor at 22.16m this season and outdoor from 2023 at 22.22m) Rajindra Campbell’s progress in recent years has been phenomenal. His PB at the USATF Throws Festival in 2023 was just 21.31m, and I remember him being pumped about it! Improving another whole meter on the season is incredible, and speaks volumes about the lefty’s potential. His outdoor season so far has been consistent above 21.50m, save for a slight dip in performance at the USATF LA Grand Prix. That little refocus could set him up very well for this opportunity at Hayward Field. 

Tripp Piperi made a big move this year: From his alma mater in Austin, TX to Corvallis, OR, where he’s working with Oregon State Coach Dave Dumble. With new technical input comes some volatility in results, but Tripp seems to be hitting his stride as we rocket toward Olympic Trials, and will have the advantage at Pre of sleeping in his own bed, eating his own food, etc. When all technical things are new, that consistency in routine could help him hone in on the throw he’s been close to this outdoor season, and close to for years. At only 25 and with a PB of 21.74m (indoor), he is one of the most consistent performers, stacking mid-21m competitions onto his resume since returning from a nasty ankle injury and surgery right before the 2021 outdoor season. I think we have yet to see this young talent’s best: When the U.S. swept the Oregon 2022 podium, Tripp’s 8th place finish made it four Americans in the top 8 at just 23 years old, battling at the right time despite his novice.

Having already secured his Paris Olympic bid, Kiwi Tom Walsh has re-started his outdoor season somewhat slowly, but has a history of performing at exactly the right time. His outdoor SB of 21.51m came during the southern hemisphere’s summer domestic season, but he reached 22m twice indoors, earning Silver at Glasgow Indoor Worlds with 22.07m. The 2x Olympic Bronze medalist is also a four-time Diamond League Final winner, 2017 outdoor World Champion, and has been fourth at the last two Worlds, meaning 2024 has him carrying a chip on his very decorated shoulder. He’s the only one of the medalists in this field to have not won a Prefontaine Classic, and looks to improve on his USATF LA Grand Prix performance this weekend at Hayward. He can draw on his third place, 22.69m performance from Prefontaine in 2023.

While Josh Awotunde has had an injury-plagued few seasons, never count him out again after his massive breakthrough Bronze medal grab to complete the Oregon 2022 podium sweep that American shotput fans had hoped for for generations. His PB of 22.29m edged Tom into fourth, but Tunde would have secured third place with no less than three of his attempts that day. In 2023, after only three competitions on the season, he again tossed 22m (22.10m) for second at U.S. Nationals to claim a Budapest roster spot. His start to 2024 at the LA Grand Prix was almost half a meter better than his 2023 opener, so watch out when he gets back in the ring at Pre Classic that has made his dreams reality so far. 

The final two athletes in this field made up the U.S. shotputting contingent with Ryan that went to the Tokyo Olympic Games, and at this point in the season, their resumes and current marks would suggest that they’ll be going to Paris, too. But, again, men’s shotput Olympic Trials in the United States is one of the absolute most competitive and high-pressure scenarios in all of track and field. Joe Kovacs, Payton Otterdahl, and Ryan Crouser are the favorites to make this team, but anything can happen at Hayward.

Payton first threw 22m (22.09m) at U.S. Outdoor Championships last year, earning third, and translating that Worlds bid into his highest placing at a major with 5th in Budapest. One of the coolest things about his 2023 season is that he underwent hip surgery at the end of 2022, and saw his best results ever within his first year post-op. As someone who has had surgery, that’s amazing! Then Payton said hold the phone, and started 2024 with three straight meets over 22m (22.59m PB at Drake Relays indoor, 22.14m to win Drake Relays outdoor, and 22.41m with a big ol’ series (4 attempts over 22m) at the USATF Throws Festival). He is on an absolute roll, and I’m pumped to see him throw again at Pre: He has great vibes at Hayward Field since it’s where he made his first Olympic Team and returned to the World Team after that surgery.

Joe, last weekend at the USATF Throws Festival, answered Payton’s Tucson series with his own enormous USATF LA Grand Prix one, finishing the day with 22.93m and five attempts over 22m (3 of them over 22.60m). That result matches his 2023 Prefontaine Classic victory distance, which earned him his third career and second straight Diamond League Final win. He sits second all-time on the World List, becoming only the third man in history to surpass 23m when he threw 23.23m in Zurich to win the Diamond trophy in 2022. Joe’s Los Angeles performance made a huge statement, and his press conference mention there that that meet was a building block for him for the Pre Classic means to me that Ryan’s meet record has been put on serious notice.

This has always been a marquee throwing event, and it is the best it has ever been in the history of the world, right now, in this very moment. I mean that, even without Ryan in the ring this weekend. The depth is completely nuts, and the top end is literally the best of all time. Do not miss it at Pre Classic!