Cantwell ready for Los Angeles clash
5/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
May 13, 2004
Los Angeles, USA - Twenty-three-year-old Christian Cantwell the goateed-and-bearded Missouri grad is currently the world's best shot putter topping the IAAF World Event Ranking.
Cantwell who won the World Indoor Championship in March in Budapest will face his stiffest test yet at the Home Depot Track & Field Invitational on May 22. All of his major rivals for the three 2004 U.S. Olympic Team spots will be there to test him, including two of the sport's wild men.
One is the World and Olympic silver medallist Adam Nelson, and then there is the masked one, Reese Hoffa. Derided by some for wearing a two-tone wrestling mask to last year's Home Depot Invitational, "The Unknown Shot Putter" finished second on that occasion, ahead of now former three World Champion John Godina.
"The crowd really loved 'Un' last year," noted meet director Rich Perelman. "This year Reese promises more fireworks, both in the ring and out. But he can handle it as he showed last year, when he set a personal best . . . with the mask!"
Somewhat overshadowed by these stalwarts are two other world-class putters who will be in action on May 22: Canadian national record-holder Brad Snyder; and former Iowa State All-American Jamie Beyer of the USA.
