Crouser produces world’s best shot put since 1990, Craddock soars to personal-best triple jump to prevail against Taylor highlighting impressive performances in all field events; Gruver, Nilsen triumph in strong pole vault competitions

By Landon Negri for DyeStat

The Beach Invitational at Long Beach State might not be the biggest meet in California, nor does it have the most name recognition.

But at its best, it can provide moments that rival those from any track and field meet out there.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

That was the case Saturday, when field events dominated the day and produced some incredible results, including a mark in the shot put not seen since M.C Hammer’s last hit record and a star-studded triple jump that had a winner that wished he had a ball to spike afterward.

Olympic gold medalist Ryan Crouser highlighted a spirited men’s shot put competition by throwing the  best mark on the planet since Randy Barnes set the world record in 1990. In fact, Crouser did it in back-to-back rounds in the event’s final, throwing 74 feet, 7 inches (22.73m) and 74-7.25 (22.74m) in his fourth and fifth attempts to win.

The world record might be in sight, but Crouser, 26, said he’ll keep referring to the list of goals he has on the bathroom mirror. Up next, he said, is 74-9.75 (22.80m), then 75-1.75 (22.90m), and then he can perhaps start thinking, ever so slightly, about the world record at 75-10.25 (23.12m).

“Getting there,” he said. “One step at a time.”

Crouser’s previous best was 74-3.75 (22.65m). But he said he got into a groove Saturday, particularly after the prelim throws. He said he is also recovering from a slight pectoral tear.

“That was really frustrating for me, just kind of protecting it,” he said. “And then once I got loosened up and then just let it happen. It was an unbelievable atmosphere. The crowd was into it, I was into it, and I felt really good.”

And he needed all that distance to defeat a stacked field that thrilled the throng of onlookers crowding the fencing right at the track.

Saying it was “awesome” to see everyone in the field throwing far, North Dakota State senior Payton Otterdahl placed second with a throw of 70-1.50 (21.37m), improving on his own school outdoor record and elevating to the No. 15 performer in collegiate history. He was followed by two personal bests from the Ottawa Lions’ Tim Nedow (69-6, 21.18m) and University of Texas sophomore Adrian Piperi (68-11.25, 21.01m).

Big marks, apparently, are contagious.

“When you see a big throw,” Otterdahl said with a smile, “You don’t want to be outdone.”

Watching the shot put, it would’ve been hard to picture that event’s energy being matched, but it was almost four hours later.

Former University of Florida standout Omar Craddock won the triple jump with a big mark of 58-0.25 (17.68m), one in which he wanted to celebrate like a game-winning touchdown afterward.

“Definitely, and I sure would’ve hit that Emmy dance on (those) boys,” he said, jokingly, and referring to scoring on a random football team, and not his track opponents Saturday.

Craddock, in fact, liked his mark so much that he passed on his three finals attempts. And that was with a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the field.

Christian Taylor finished second in 56-4.50 (17.18m). Both marks were good enough for to qualify for the World Championships with a top-three placing at the USATF Outdoor Championships in July. Both men were making their outdoor debuts this season.

“It’s the farthest I’ve jumped in four years,” said Craddock, who elevated to the No. 9 all-time American performer Saturday. “Last year, I was 17.40m. I’m appreciative of this. And I’m just ready to climb. It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish.”

Taylor, who won gold in 2012 in London and 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, livened up the afternoon crowd, despite suffering his first domestic setback in three years at a meet in which he produced a fair jump.

“I was really hoping to open up a little bit further – 17.18 again,” said Taylor, whose personal best is 59-9 (18.21m). “But actually much healthier and much stronger.”

Donald Scott, competing unattached, finished third and just missed world qualification with a mark of 56-1.75 (17.11m). KeAndre Bates was fourth in 55-8.25 (16.97m), and Chris Carter fifth in 55-3.50 (16.85m). Akron sophomore Hesham Eldesouky was the top collegiate in the field, placing seventh overall in 52-5.25 (15.98m).

And in the middle of these two events was some pretty good pole vaulting, as well.

In her first competition since setting a new collegiate outdoor women’s pole vault record at 15 feet, 6.25 inches (4.73m) at the Stanford Invitational three weeks ago, Washington senior Olivia Gruver won at Long Beach with a meet-record clearance of 15-3.50 (4.66m) and came close in her three attempts at 15-7.25 (4.76m).

She still won easily, as San Diego State senior Bonnie Draxler was the runner-up in 14-5.50 (4.41m).

“So the first attempt, it was a new pole, so I was a little hesitant,” Gruver said. “And then the second one, it was a really good jump, but I hit the pole on the way up with my foot, so it kind of stopped. The third one, it felt really good. I thought I had it, but I hit it on the way down, I think.”

With side-by-side vaulting pits at Long Beach State, it also offered Gruver the chance to vault next to South Dakota junior Chris Nilsen (19-1, 5.82m), who outlasted Akron senior Matthew Ludwig (18-7.25, 5.67m) to set a new meet record on the men’s side as well.

Wyoming senior Jerayah Davis scored herself a triple Saturday, leading off the 4x100 winning relay team (45.50) before edging Jasmine Todd to win the long jump in 21-2.50 (6.46m). Then, she surprised even herself with a convincing victory in the 100 in a slightly wind-aided 11.18.

“I felt like I had a really good start,” Davis said. “I’ve struggled maintaining in the past, and today, I was able to maintain my start.”

Iowa junior Laulauga Tausaga got within a tiebreaker of doubling Saturday, overcoming four fouls to win the discus with a No. 2 collegiate mark of 204-4 (62.28m), then losing a tiebreaker to UCLA’s Alyssa Wilson at 59-1.50 (18.02m) for the shot put title, although both athletes share the collegiate lead. Wilson’s second mark was 58-8 (17.88m), compared to Tausaga’s 53-8.75 (16.38m).

Divya Biswal of the Ottawa Lions club pulled off her own impressive feat, winning the women’s triple jump in a personal-best 43-10.75 (13.38m) after placing as the runner-up in both the long and the triple jumps Friday in the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa-Pacific.

Biswal’s winner Saturday – she missed the 2016 meet record of 44 feet (13.41m) by Nigeria’s Blessing Ufodiama – came on her first jump. It was also her second PR in two days.

“I actually PB’d yesterday,” she said. “So to come back today and jump another PB, and foul some really big jumps, I honestly couldn’t be happier and I’m just really excited to see where the season takes me.”

Sheffield Elite’s Jaide Stepter tallied a double win in the 200 (22.97) and 400 (52.35). San Diego State freshman Nyjari McNeil doubled with a win in the 800 (2:06.58) and with the Aztecs’ 4x400 relay (3:42.40).

Other women’s winners were Marina/Nike’s Brenda Eunice Flores Munoz in the 1,500 (4:19.99), Nike’s Erica Bougard in the 100 hurdles (13.24), Washington junior Darhian Mills in the 400 hurdles (58.35) and Long Beach State senior Bria Palmer in the high jump (5-10.75).

Other men’s winners were Corre A.C.’s Julio Ortiz in the 1,500 (3:50.63), Jordan Charles in the 110 hurdles (13.93),  Ben Ayesu-Attah in the 400 (46.75), Sam Houston State’s Chris Jefferson in the 100 (10.41), Nebraska sophomore George Kusche in the 800 (1:49.30), Iowa freshman Raymonte Dow in the 400 hurdles (51.79) and Jamiel Trimble in the 200 (20.63).

Long Beach State won the 4x100 relay in 40,60, while Loyola-Illinois won the 4x400 in 3:14.35.

Remaining field-event winners were Trevor Barry in the high jump (7-2.50), Akron senior Jordan Latimer in the long jump (26-3.75) and Chula Vista Elite’s Brian Williams in the discus, prevailing by a 213-5 (65.04m) to 213-4 (65.02m) margin over reigning USATF Outdoor champion Reggie Jagers.