Crouser Launches Four More Throws Past 22 Meters To Win First Outdoor Matchup This Season With Kovacs; Has Surpassed 22 Meters 31 Times This Year

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Ryan Crouser is nibbling around the edges of a world record shot put, but it continued to elude him Monday at the 70th Hanzekovic Memorial in Zagreb, Croatia. 

The 2016 Olympic champion smashed the meet record with a third-round mark of 74-7.25 (22.74m) on the way to victory competing at the City Fountains Park in Zagreb as a special showcase one day ahead of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event. 

It was the farthest throw in Europe since 1988.

Reigning world champion Joe Kovacs, making his outdoor debut in 2020 after months of training, was second with 69-10.75 (21.30m). Kovacs momentarily took the lead in the competition with that throw before Crouser launched the Croatia all-comers record. 

The rest of the meet takes place Tuesday at Sports Park Mladost in Zagreb. 

Crouser has now surpassed 22 meters 31 times, including 27 outdoors, in 2020 and no one else has done that once. He has 99 career shot put marks of at least 22 meters, including 93 outdoors, four more coming Monday.

Out of 44 outdoor throws in history that have reached 74 feet (22.56m) or farther, Crouser has 18 of them.