INTERVIEWS | RESULTS/VIDEOS

 

RATHDRUM, Idaho – Chase Jackson is inching closer and closer to a realm (21 meters) no American woman has ever reached in the women’s shot put.

 

The American record holder extended her personal best mark of 20.76 meters (68-1.50) to 20.95m (68-8.75) on Saturday at the Iron Wood Throws Classic to move to No. 1 in the world this season.

 

Jackson’s first-round throw obliterated her own meet record by over 1.5 meters that she set back in 2020 when she threw 19.41m (63-8.25).

 

“I felt like I did all the elements close to right that we’ve been working on in training,” Jackson said. “I drove through the board harder; I’ve been working on that trying to get to the front.”

 

Going through final preparations the night before at the Iron Wood Throwers Center, Jackson had a couple of practice throws that went well beyond 21 meters, giving her an indication she was ready for a big throw on Saturday.

 

“The last few sessions I’ve had, I kind of broke that barrier,” Jackson said. “I made a technical change that just worked really well…I think today, after my first throw, I got a little excited. I think it’s coming; hopefully throw 21 (meters) soon.”

 

Jackson fouled her next two throws to conclude the preliminary flight. In finals, she opened with a 20.45m (67-1.25) in round four but then fouled her last two throws. Both her first and fourth throw would have won the competition.

 

“This is the kind of thing that builds the confidence,” Jackson said. “That’s all I need to do is keep building the confidence. Getting good marks, being consistent and I think that’s all I really need to feel good going into Tokyo.”

 

Maggie Ewen, now representing Iron Wood Track Club after being with Nike for most of her professional career since graduating from Arizona State in 2018, finished second with a throw of 19.69m (64-7.25).

 

Former Oregon standout Jaida Ross eclipsed the 19-meter line for the first time since competing at the Paris Olympics last summer, throwing 19.62m (64-4.50) to finish third. Ross had four throws over 19 meters.

 

Jessica Ramsey, a 2025 world indoors competitor for the U.S., threw a season’s best 18.82m (61-9) to finish fourth.

 

Jackson’s American record throw was one of two meet records broken.

 

Curtis Thompson erased Riley Dolezal’s mark of 79.39m (260-5) in the men’s javelin, throwing 81.94m (268-10) to eclipse 80 meters for the fourth time this season.

 

Thompson progressively got better as the competition went by after fouling on his first throw. He concluded the preliminary round with a throw of 78.14m (256-4), then opened finals with 76.13m (249-9) before throwing his best mark in round five.

 

Thompson’s next competition will be overseas in India at the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic. The world’s best javelin throwers will compete at Sri Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru in one of the biggest track and field competitions on Indian soil since the 1982 Asian Games.

 

Payton Otterdahl improved his world No. 2 mark in the men’s shot put, throwing 22.09m (72-5.75) to surpass 22 meters the first time this outdoor season.

 

Roger Steen, the inaugural World Shot Put Series champion from last April’s Drake Relays, threw 21.68m (71-1.50) in round two to finish second. His last four throws were all fouls.

 

Nick Ponzio, an Italian Olympian, took third with a mark of 21.04m (71-1.50).

 

American record holder DeAnna Price won her third Iron Wood Throws Classic title in the women’s hammer, throwing 76.82m (252-0). Paris Olympics silver medalist and fellow American Annette Echikunwoke finished second, throwing 73.31m (240-6).

 

Rachel Richeson, world No. 2 in the women’s hammer, fouled on all three of her first round throws.

 

Laulauga Tausaga won her third discus competition of the season, and first since the Tom Jones Memorial in April, throwing 66.59m (218-5). It’s also the first competition since the Oklahoma Throws Series World Invitational in April where Tausaga surpassed 66 meters.

 

Gabi Jacobs finished second, throwing 65.66m (215-5) to lead all competitors in the preliminary round. Veronica Fraley opened finals with her best mark of 64.64m (212-1) to finish third.

 

Tanner Berg won the men’s hammer throw by two centimeters, throwing 75.13m (246-6). Kieran McKeag was second, throwing 75.11m (246-5).

 

Madison Wiltrout won her third consecutive javelin competition of the season, throwing 57.50m (188-7).

 

Maddie Harris, fifth at NCAAs for Nebraska, finished second, throwing 56.04m (183-10).

 

Rhema Otabor, 2024 NCAA champion, took third, throwing 54.56m (179-0).

 

Andrew Evans won the men’s discus competition with a throw of 64.56m (211-9). Colombian Mauricio Ortega, another Paris Olympian, took second, throwing 63.98m (209-11).