TUCSON — A world-leading mark in the women's hammer and a host of other impressive efforts in four throwing events kicked the pre-Olympic season into higher gear Saturday at the USATF Throws Festival at the University of Arizona's Drachman Stadium. 2022 world champion Brooke Andersen fouled on her first attempt in the women's hammer and then unleashed a world-leading 78.16/256-5 in round two to jump into the lead by 15 feet. Andersen placed two more attempts past the 77m mark and then closed out the day with the best performance of the year, whirling a massive 79.92/262-2 for the fourth farthest throw in U.S. history. Almost 20 feet back in second was China's Zhao Jie, who had a best of 74.10/243-1, with Annette Echikunwoke garnering third at 73.80/242-1. Rachel Tanczos came close to her PB, throwing 73.53/241-3 on her second try. Fresh off a pair of wins and a big PB at the Drake Relays last week, Payton Otterdahl put together another great series to win the men's shot put, topped by a 22.41/73-6.25 on his last throw. Otterdahl had four throws past 22m and won by more than two feet over Rajindra Campbell of Jamaica and Mexico's Uziel Munoz. Arizona grad Jordan Geist placed fourth at 21.23/69-8. U.S. leader Daniel Haugh almost matched his best mark of 2024 in round one of the men's hammer with a 79.01/259-2 and after three fouls had two throws of the same distance – 78.81/258-6 – to win easily over Denzel Comenentia of the Netherlands. American record holder Rudy Winkler was third at 76.89/252-3. Hitting the third best distance of his career in the men's discus, Joseph Brown took an early lead with a 64.57/211-10 in round one that held up through the first three attempts. As the field was winnowed down to eight, the improvements started to come behind Brown. Despite better marks from Reggie Jagers, Turner Washington, Brian Williams and Dallin Shurts, no one could overtake Brown and he came away with the victory. Jagers was second with a 64.25/210-9 in round four, while Washington was one centimeter ahead of Williams with a 63.90/209-7 and Shurts was at 63.65/208-10. Jamaica's Fedrick Dacres grabbed third with a best of 64.07/210-2 in the second stanza. Gabi Jacobs recovered from a rocky start in the women’s discus to take over the lead on her second attempt with a 59.43m/194-11 throw. Her best throw of the day, however, came in the fifth round. A light wind picked up as Jacobs entered the ring for her fifth throw of the day. She knew it was big before it hit the ground at 61.80/202-9 - the only throw of the day to surpass 60m. Nigeria’s Chioma Onyekwere was second with her fifth round 59.31m/194-7 and Elena Bruckner snagged third with a 59.26m/194-5 throw. Former American record holder Maggie Malone-Hardin was never really challenged in the women's javelin. Her opening effort of 55.59/182-4 put her atop the standings, and she improved in a big way in round two with a 60.17/197-5 that gave her victory by almost five feet over France's Alizee Minard. Madison Wiltrout took third at 57.78/189-6, the third farthest throw of her career. Four men, including two Americans, surpassed 80m in the javelin as Australia's Cameron McEntyre came away victorious with a best of 81.56/267-7 on his penultimate throw. Marc Anthony Minichello claimed third with an 81.19/266-4, and Donavon Banks had his second best throw ever at 80.82/265-2 for fourth. Jamaica's 2019 World Championships silver medalist Danniel Thomas-Dodd won the women's shot out on her first attempt, blasting an 18.87/61-11 that was never bettered. Adelaide Aquilla, last year's Pan American Games bronze medalist, had two throws good enough for the runner-up spot, including a best of 18.47/60-7.25, and 2021 Olympic Trials champion Jessica Ramsey was third with her best throw since 2022, an 18.34/60-2 in round one. In the men’s pole vault, Pan Am Games bronze medalist Clayton Fritsch matched his personal best of 5.82m/19-1 to take a decisive win and a new facility record. Luke Winder challenged Fritsch with a single attempt at the height following two misses at 5.72m/18-9.25, but didn’t manage to make it over the bar, ending the competition at 5.62m/18-5.25. Zachery Bradford was third with a 5.52m/18-1.25. India's Tejaswin Shankar was the high jump champion based on fewer misses at the winning height of 2.23/7-3.75, with Earnie Sears second. Rachel Baxter was the lone vaulter once the bar reached 4.50/14-9 and she cleared that height on her third attempt to secure the win over Emily Grove, who went over 4.30/14-1.25 for second. Baxter took three unsuccessful tries at 4.63/15-2.25. Six-time outdoor national champion in the women’s high jump, Vashti Cunningham, had the title clenched on her fourth jump of the day, winning with a best of 1.90/6-2.75. Zarriea Willis nabbed second at 1.87/6-1.5. A full list of results can be found here.