McCullough Throws Lifetime Best To Secure Hammer Title

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

DES MOINES – Hammer thrower Conor McCullough unleashed the longest throw by an American in seven years and achieved a new personal best with a big final attempt that traveled 256 feet, 4 inches (78.14m) on Friday at the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships. 

Men's competitions in the hammer, shot put and triple jump all produced results that illustrated depth and quality. 

McCullough had the three longest throws of the hammer competition and will make the U.S. team for the IAAF World Championships, along with second-place finisher Rudy Winkler, the 2016 Olympic Trials champion, and Daniel Haugh, the NCAA champion from Kennesaw State. 

"I knew something big was in there and it was nice to do it in the national championships," said McCullough, who broke the facility record. 

McCullough won his first U.S. senior title after winning a junior title in 2010 and Irish national titles from 2011-13. 

Sean Donnelly threw 76.38m (250-7) for fourth place and missed the top three by two inches. It was the first time that four throwers surpassed 76 meters at the USATF Championships.

In the shot put, the "Rio Trio" all threw past 22.10 meters (72-6) to secure berths to Doha – a first for the USATF championships. 

Ryan Crouser, hampered by injuries over the past two weeks, cut loose with a facility record 74-2.50 (22.62m) on his fifth attempt to secure the win. 

Crouser said he has dealt with pain in his hand, wrist and elbow, and dislodged a rib out of place on Monday, all on the run-up to nationals. 

"This one meant a lot to me," he said. "I've been struggling and been down on myself, so to go out there and execute well and in the late rounds throw 22.60-plus, I was really happy with that. I put it up there with any of my best throws ever."

Technically, it was his fifth-farthest throw and fourth best of 2019. 

Joe Kovacs placed second with a season-best throw of 73-2.50 (22.31m) and Darrell Hill also got a season best with 72-6.50 (22.11m). The previous best third-place mark at a U.S. championships was 71-10 (21.89m) by Christian Cantwell in 2006.

Beyond those three, Jon Jones threw 70-2.50 (21.40m) and has reason to hope that he, too, can secure a bid to Doha. 

Crouser, Kovacs and Hill all figure to be part of the Diamond League championship and the winner will earn an automatic berth to Doha. That would enable the U.S. to take four to the IAAF World Championships. 

The men's triple jump produced an exciting show for fans along the homestretch of Drake Stadium as four men surpassed 56-9 (17.30m) – the fifth time that has happened at a U.S. championships (1985, 1986, 1987, 2004).  

A fifth jumper, Christian Taylor, made an obligatory appearance but declined to participate in the competiton. Because he owns a free pass to Doha by virtue of his world title, Taylor came to Des Moines from his home in Austria and walked down the runway to record one attempt – a foul. 

But the action among the top jumpers was sensational, starting with Chris Benard's first jump of 56-10.25w (17.33m). 

Benard laid down a mark that Donald Scott, Will Claye and Omar Craddock were all able to surpass. Benard was unable to improve upon his first attempt and finished with four consecutive fouls on the way to fourth place. 

Scott jumped 58-2.50w (17.74m) on his first attempt and that mark held up for the win. 

Claye got off identical wind-legal 58-0.25 (17.68m) jumps to break the facility record and also a wind-aided 58-1 (17.70) to secure second place. 

Craddock went 57-7 (17.55m) for third. 

As a group, the quartet produced the best U.S. competition since the 2004 Olympic Trials.

In the decathlon, three athletes spent the day chasing the world qualifying standard of 8,200 points after pre-meet favorite Zach Ziemek pulled out of the competition after just four events on Day 1. 

Devon Williams achieved personal bests in the pole vault and javelin and held it together in the 1,500 meters on the way to his first U.S. title with 8,295 points. He suffered cramps in his side and his legs during the pole vault, but still managed to make two crucial third-attempt clearances and get over 5.00 meters for the first time. 

"I've been playing with that 5-meter line for a while now, so it felt really good to get it at this meet with the decathlon I'd been having. My Day 1 didn't go so good but I'picked it up on Day 2 and I put it together," Williams said.

Williams threw 199-3 (60.74m) in the javelin for a PR in the ninth event, which staked him to a comfortable with one task left.

Solomon Simmons ran a seven-second lifetime best in a grueling final 1,500 meters to take second place with 8,227 points. 

And Harrison Williams, a recent Stanford graduate, closed strong and won the 1,500 meters on the way to 8,188 points. 

Williams, at 21st on the global descending order list, still holds out some hope of being added to the team despite coming up 12 points short.