Josh Awotunde did his part to complete a historic and stunning sweep by the U.S. in the men's shot put with a monster heave of 73-1.75 to earn the bronze medal at the World Championships on Sunday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Awotunde, a 2013 graduate of NJ's Delsea High who starred at the University of South Carolina, produced the greatest series of his life.
On his first throw of the competition, Awotunde launched the 16-pound ball 72-11.75 to immediately move into third-place, and then he exploded on his fifth attempt with a mammoth blast of 73-1.75, the 18th best mark ever in the world, No. 11 in U.S. history, and No. 5 in meet history. Awotunde, who averaged 71-10.75, destroyed his previous PR of 72-0.
Ryan Crouser, the world record holder and two-time Olympic gold medalist, won the shot with a 75-3.25 on his fifth attempt, and defending champion Joe Kovacs placed second with a 75-1.25 as the U.S. became the first country to ever sweep the men's shot put had swept the shot put at the World Championships.
The the other big NJ news on Sunday was Sam Mattis qualifying for the men's discus final by throwing 65.59 meters, the eighth best mark in the qualifying round. Mattis, a 2016 U.S. Olympian who starred at East Brunswick High (Class of 2012), will throw in the 12-man final on Tuesday night at 8:33 p.m.
Next up for NJ is Keturah Orji (Mount Olive High Class of 2014) in the women's triple jump final on Monday at 9:20 p.m. Orji, a two-time Olympian and the American record holder in the TJ, is seeking her first global medal after a couple near misses.
Orji, who has won six U.S. outdoor titles in the triple jump, placed fourth in the TJ at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, fourth at the 2016 World Indoor Championships, fifth at the 2018 World Indoor Championships, and seventh at the 2019 World Outdoor Championships, and she was seventh at the Olympics in Tokyo last summer.
Will this finally be Orji's time to grab a spot on the podium on the world stage?? Stay tuned!!!!