Crouser Relies On Technical Aspects To Launch No. 4 All-Time Indoor Throw

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

At the end of a busy Saturday in New York, Ryan Crouser was thanking his fellow competitors for their composure, ruminating on the relative success of the shot put's successful return to the NYRR Millrose Games, and expressing concern for Kemoy Campbell, who collapsed not far from the throwing circle.

Crouser launched the fourth-farthest throw in history, with 22.33 meters (73 feet, 3.75 inches). It was the best mark in 11 years, since Adam Nelson threw 73-5.75 (22.40m) at the Tyson Invitational at Arkansas in 2008. VIDEO

"That was a historic throw," Crouser said of Nelson's 2008 mark. "He might have ripped his shirt off for that one. For indoors, it's one of the most famous throws ever."

Crouser, the 2016 Olympic champion, lives and trains at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. He came to the NYRR Millrose Games to help promote the shot put at The Armory and also had hopes of achieving a new personal best. 

"It's early for me," Crouser said. "I've done a very limited number of hard throws to this point. My goal going in was to get an indoor PR and I was hoping to be around 22 meters. I was pleasantly surprised with 22.33."

Crouser threw over 70 feet on all six attempts -- meaning all six were far enough to win. Joe Kovacs finished second with a best mark of 68-5.25 (20.86m). KOVACS INTERVIEW

"Mostly I just wanted to execute technically," Crouser said. "Last year, I was big and strong and just smashed it. That's what my technical cue was. I wanted to get away from that and be loose and more technically proficient in this meet. My training has been heavy in the weights with very little dynamic training."

Crouser was able to review video of his throws with a critical eye and liked what he saw.

"Technically, I did a lot of things right," he said. "I was happy with the macro technical perspective. My weight was on balance. My feet positioning was pretty good. All that was missing was being a little bit faster and having more (training) throws, having the feeling for the throw and the it factor. It wasn't perfect. Where my body is inside the ring looks pretty good, though."

Putting the pieces of the puzzle all together -- weight training, plyometrics, foot work, speed and feeling the throw -- that's Crouser's task as he pursues the world record. 

On Saturday, his best throw came in the fourth round. 

It was right about the time of Crouser's fifth throw when Campbell stepped off the track and collapsed. The EMTs who arrived on scene first found that the runner's heart had stopped beating. 

Ashinia Miller, a fellow Jamaican and close friend of Campbell's, was immediately shaken. 

Miller said he didn't want to take his sixth and final throw. Crouser told the meet official that if Miller was passing then he and Kovacs would pass as well. 

Medical personnel were able to get Campbell's heart started again, and word of that got to the throwers. 

"Ashinia said, 'I'll take my last throw for him. That's what (Campbell) would have wanted, '" Crouser said. "Joe and I said, 'We'll do whatever you want to do.' He made the call on that."

The three throwers who were still alive in the competition -- Crouser, Kovacs and Miller -- all took a final throw after Campbell had been wheeled out of the arena. 

Miller fouled. Crouser and Kovacs lofted attempts that fell short of their bests.

The shot put experiment was over. 

"You could tell it was new for the crowd," Crouser said. "They were like,  'Do we clap? Do we be quiet?' They were really starting to respond by rounds three and four and there was more energy in the event. But the fifth round all the air went out of the building. It impacted everyone."

The shot putters kneeled together and prayed while medical personnel tended to Campbell. 

"I want to say thanks to the other guys who were competing," Crouser said. "I feel like they handled it well. A couple of guys were younger and less experienced, as opposed to me and Joe. For Josh Awotunde, it was his first pro meet and that's a tough one. I told him that will be as tough of a meet atmosphere as you'll ever have, hopefully."