The best throwers around the country will gather in Eugene, OR this week to throw at the USATF Outdoor Championships for a spot to compete at the 2022 IAAF World Championships, which take place next month.
Let’s take a look at each event and predict some winners.
Men’s Shot Put
This event is LOADED. Joe Kovacs is the defending World Champ and has an automatic bid for next month’s championships. Ryan Crouser has the best throw on the planet with 23.02m and set the world record at this track last year. The US has three other men in the world top ten that should make for an exciting competition.
Winner: Ryan Crouser
Women’s Shot Put
Raven Saunders is the reigning Olympic silver medalist but comes in ranked sixth on the year with 18.71m. Maggie Ewen, ranked fourth, can relax as she has an automatic bid for the World Championships by winning last year’s Diamond League Final. Chase Ealey has put together a fantastic season showing consistency and distance. She just set a new PB last week of 20.21m.
Winner: Chase Ealey
Men’s Hammer
Once a weak spot for USA Throws, the men’s hammer has four men in the world top 21 led by American record-holder Rudy Winkler and Daniel Haugh. Haugh just set a PB of 79.44m that leads the nation this year. Sean Donnelly and Alex Young are both over 77m this year and will look to shake things up.
Winner: Rudy Winkler
Women’s Hammer
The women’s hammer boasts three women in the world top ten and the defending world champion in Deanna Price. Janee Kassanavoid and Brooke Andersen lead the field as the only athletes over 78m this year. Brooke leads the nation with 79.02m and has shown consistency with four meets over 77m.
Winner: Brooke Andersen
Men’s Discus
Olympian Sam Mattis leads the nation with a 68.69m PB that ranks sixth in the world, but there are several other throwers snapping at his tail including Brian Williams and Andrew Evans who have thrown over 66m this year.
Winner: Sam Mattis
Women’s Discus
Olympic Champion Valarie Allman comes in leading the world with her American record toss of 71.46m. The second best mark in the field belongs to Rachel Dincoff who threw a new PB of 65.46m two weeks ago that ranks fifth on the planet. Laulauga Tausaga-Collins is also ranked in the world top ten with her 64m best.
Winner: Valarie Allman
Men’s Javelin
This may be the hardest event to predict with so many athletes within striking distance to win. The national leader is Ethan Dabbs of Virginia with his mark of 82.92m, and last year’s Olympic Trials Champ Curtis Thomspon is not far behind. With almost ten men over 80m this should be exciting from start to finish.
Winner: Curtis Thompson
Women’s Javelin
The women’s javelin features 4x Olympian Kara Winger who is an 8x US Champ in the event. She owned the American record until Maggie Malone broke it last year with 67.40m. Maggie leads the field but Kara will be looking for a ninth title.
Winner: Maggie Malone
