Feb. 29, 2004

BOSTON - Missouri Tiger post-collegian and current undergraduate assistant coach, Christian Cantwell earned the USA Track & Field Indoor Championship crown in the men's shot put competition and qualifies for the U.S. National Indoor Team that will advance to the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics next weekend. Cantwell, winning his first U.S. National Championship, entered the weekend as the fourth best shot put thrower in the world.

Cantwell (Eldon, Mo.) won the event with a toss of 69 feet, 9 inches (21.26m), surpassing second place Reese Hoffa by nearly a foot on his final throw. Cantwell's throw today is recorded as the third longest currently in the world for the year, giving him six of the top nine throws recorded in the indoor season. His throw of 72 feet, 1 inch recorded last weekend at the Missouri All-Comers is still number one for 2004.

Cantwell was a seven-time all-American and six-time Big 12 Conference champion as a Missouri Tiger.

Cantwell will join another former Tiger, Derrick Peterson, who finished second yesterday in the 800-meter run on the U.S.A. National team, traveling to the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, next weekend, March 5-7, in Budapest, Hungary.

ESPN2 will have television coverage later this afternoon from 5-6 p.m., central time.

For more coverage go to mutigers.com, usatf.org, or iaaf.org.

 USA Indoor Championships - 2/27/2004 to 2/29/2004
 Indoor Golden Spike Tour
 Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center

Event 35 Men Shot Put
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 All competitors get 6 attempts.
 World: W 22.66m 1989 Randy Barnes, USA
 American: A 22.66m 1989 Randy Barnes, Mazda
 Name Year Team Finals
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Finals
 1 Christian Cantwell Nike 21.26m 69-09.00
 20.65m 20.73m FOUL FOUL 20.78m 21.26m
 2 Reese Hoffa New York Ath 20.97m 68-09.75
 18.73m 20.42m 20.97m 20.15m 20.87m 20.63m
 3 Jesse Roberge unattached 19.19m 62-11.50
 FOUL 18.30m 18.46m 18.36m 18.45m 19.19m
 4 Jon Kalnas unattached 18.97m 62-03.00
 18.79m 18.73m 18.78m FOUL 18.79m 18.97m
 5 Vincent Mosca unattached 17.91m 58-09.25
 17.44m FOUL 17.91m FOUL FOUL FOUL
 -- Adam Nelson Nike DNS