Missouri
Home Depot Invitational
Cantwell Shatters Career Best At Home Depot Invitational
5/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
May 22, 2004
CARSON, Calif. - Missouri post-collegian Christian Cantwell once again made history on Saturday, winning the men's shot put competition at the Home Depot Invitational with a toss of 73 feet, 4 inches, the new 2004 world leading mark. Cantwell's throw takes him to sixth all-time in American history and jumps him into the top ten all-time in the World. All six of Cantwell's throws marked over 70 feet, the second time the world has seen such a feat.
"For the first time after this throw, I didn't yell," said Cantwell on his winning third toss. "As soon as I let it go, I knew it was a monster and said 'there it is.'"
Cantwell (Eldon, Mo.), with the win, has now taken 12 consecutive shot put titles, including the USA Indoor and World Indoor Championship from this year. Cantwell's old personal-best of 72 feet, ? inch occurred in February at the Missouri All-Comers indoor meet which at the time was the longest indoor throw made in the world since 2000. Today's throw also ranks as the 11th best all-time by an American.
Cantwell's American teammate at the World Indoor Championships, Reesa Hoffa, threw for the lead with a personal-best of 71 feet, 4 inches in the second round. Cantwell regained the lead on his third attempt. Olympic medallist in 2000, John Godina finished third in the competition with a throw of 69 feet, 3 inches.
"The last three throws I had came down from my high after throwing a big throw like that," said Cantwell. "Those were nice easy throws with no adrenalin. That just lets me know that I am in tremendous shape. Seventy-three feet might not be my best. I don't think it had as much intensity as the throw before it. If I can get that relaxation and intensity then I think that we can see some really big throws.''
Another post-collegian Derrick Peterson finished third in the men's 800-meter run after making a late charge for second place, clocking in at 1:47.25.
Cantwell and Peterson will next travel to Palo Alto, Calif., for the USA Track & Field Open, held on Memorial Day, May 31st. Television coverage of the meet will be shown on Tuesday, June 1st, on a tape-delay basis. Check local listings for times and channel. For more coverage visit mutigers.com over the next weeks and months as we continue to follow Missouri's post-collegians.
