Andersen, Winkler top world hammer lists at USATF Throws Festival

TUCSON – World-leading marks in the men's and women's hammer and one of the deepest men's shot put competitions outside a global championship roused an enthusiastic crowd Saturday at the USATF Throws Festival at the University of Arizona's Drachman Stadium.
 
Reigning world champion Brooke Andersen became only the third woman in history to surpass 80 meters in the hammer, hitting 80.17m/263-0 in the third round, and closed out her day with a 78.99m/259-2 to win by more than three meters over World Championships bronze medalist Janee' Kassanavoid. Kassanavoid hit a season best 76.60m/251-3 in round three, and Annette Echikunwoke went 75.00m/246-0 in that stanza to claim third. Echikunwoke was also a Worlds finalist in Eugene.
 
American record holder Rudy Winkler blasted a best of 80.88m/265-4 in the third round of the men's competition to take over the world lead by almost a meter, and he had a very solid series that included four other throws beyond 250-feet.
 
Seven men topped 21m in a shot put competition won by New Zealand's Tom Walsh, the 2017 world champion and a two-time Olympic bronze medalist. Walsh opened with a 21.82m/71-7.25 and never relinquished his lead, improving to 21.86m/71-8.75 on his final attempt. Tokyo Olympian Payton Otterdahl had five throws better than 21m with a best of 21.52m/70-7.25 in round six to place second. Just behind him, Tripp Piperi notched five 21m+ efforts and a best of 21.47m/70-5.25 for third. After a huge lifetime best of 22.08m/72-5.25 yesterday, Roger Steen returned and threw 21.18m/69-6 for seventh.
 
The women's shot put was also deep with quality performances and was won by Canadian record holder Sarah Mitton at 19.58m/64-3. Maggie Ewen came through on her final attempt to hit 19.28m/63-3.25 and claim the silver as seven women surpassed 60-feet.
 
Team USATF throwers swept the javelin titles, with former American record holder Maggie Malone upping the U.S. leading mark for 2023 to 62.28m/204-4 to take the women's title and Curtis Thompson going 79.34m/260-3 for men's top honors. Donavon Banks was third at 76.85m/252-1. Discus wins went to 2019 women's world champion Yaime Perez, formerly of Cuba, and Samoa's Alex Rose. Lagi Tausaga was the women's runner-up at 60.37m/198-0 and Sam Mattis claimed the men's bronze with a best of 64.90m/212-11.
 
Vashti Cunningham cleared 1.97m/6-5.5 to win the women's high jump, and Darius Carbin went over 2.19m/7-2.25 for the men's win.
 
A full list of results can be found here. 
 
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