Cantwell Wins Second Indoor World Title
3/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
March 7, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Winning a World title in the sport of track & field doesn't come with a big belt like boxing or professional wrestling, but, all the same, it comes with some hefty recognition, a Gold medal, and a catapult to the begin the Olympic year. Former Tiger Christian Cantwell (Eldon, Mo.) won his second IAAF World Indoor Championship in the shot put in Valencia, Spain, on Friday, winning with a fifth-round toss of 71 feet, 5¼ inches (21.77m). Tape-delayed coverage of today's events can be accessed for free on WCSN.com or viewed on the Versus network in the coming days, starting Saturday at 2 p.m., central.
Two weeks after marking a likely World-indoor first in having each throw over 70 feet, Cantwell was once again a model of consistency today, having five of six throws over 69-4. All of this happened after arriving to Spain only hours before this morning's qualifying round and while overcoming reported flu-like symptoms.
Cantwell, an MU volunteer assistant coach, won his first indoor World title in 2004 on the way to a No. 1 World ranking. As in 2004, fellow American Reese Hoffa, the 2006 World Indoor Champ, was second to Cantwell, throwing 69-6¾ (21.20m).
"It was a very good competition," said Cantwell to the IAAF. "I keep on training hard everyday and here is the result. However, I know you can have good days and bad days, and today was a good day. Hoffa is a great athlete but he can also be beaten. It is going to be a long year and the season has just started and will finish in Beijing."
Now, the attention falls to the outdoor season and the long, arduous trip to a possible bid to this year's Beijing Olympic Games. While many more events on Cantwell's schedule will be featured in the coming months, all eyes now turn to June 28th, the date of the men's shot put final at the USATF Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Ore.
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