Crouser Takes Another Step In Pursuit Of World Record

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Ryan Crouser's pursuit of the world record in the shot put continued Saturday at the socially distant Drake Blue Oval Showcase in Des Moines, Iowa. 

And while the record-breaking throw remains elusive, Crouser's dominance and consistency reached an astonishing new level. 

The 2016 Olympic champion became the first shot putter in history to string together six competition throws all exceeding 73 feet (22.25m).

Crouser opened with 22.27m (73-0.75) and then went to 22.72m (74-6.50) for a stadium record. In round three he recorded 22.70m (74-5.75), his fourth attempt was 22.63m (74-3), the fifth was 22.68m (74-5) and he concluded with a line drive that landed at 22.44m (73-7.50). 

"It's a huge step for me," Crouser said after producing the fourth-, fifth-, sixth- and ninth-farthest throws of his competitive career. "The absolute best distance might not show it.

"When I get consistent, you can feel a breakthrough coming."

Crouser earned $3,000 for winning the competition and an extra $1,500 for securing the top performance award at the meet.

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In a year like no other, Crouser has adapted to shifting training resources and competition opportunities in order to stay on target for his goal of breaking Randy Barnes' 1990 mark of 75-10.25 (23.12m). 

Back in late March, he told his lone training partner, Erich Sullins, that they should train in two-week blocs and be ready for any possible meets. But four weeks of that became "mentally taxing," Crouser said, and he came up with a new strategy. 

"I said, 'Hey, let's commit and train like we're going to have a meet in the first week of September,'" Crouser said. 

The first real opportunity to throw came July 18 at an American Track League event at Life University in Georgia, where Crouser added a centimeter to his lifetime best and equaled the No. 3 thrower in history with 75-2 (22.91m).

Since then, Crouser believes he is in an even better place. 

"I'm really happy with my training the last month," he said. 

When Crouser opened with a whopper of a throw, 74-0.25 (22.56m), on his first attempt at Tuesday's add-on competition, it seemed that this could be the week when the record fell. 

Crouser has surpassed 23 meters, and the world record, a couple of times during workouts. 

"I've gotten 23 a few times in training and when it happens it always feels kind of like a surprise," he said. "It's something you've never done before. It's all about setting yourself up to let it happen (in a meet) and then get your mind out of the way."

Crouser doesn't know exactly where he's going next, only that he'd like to keep the momentum going with a couple of more opportunities. That could mean figuring out a short tour in Europe or finding something else in the U.S.

"I think I've set myself up for that breakthrough and it'll be coming if I get a couple more chances to compete," he said. 

A great meet in the past would mean three or four throws over 22.20m. 

Saturday, he had four marks beyond 22.60m. 

"I moved my average up 40 centimeters," Crouser said. "I would have liked that 23 meters today, but I'm happy with the the performance and I'm looking forward to the future to build on this. 

"I'm looking for that one big throw."