After placing fifth in the Olympic Trials shot put, Josh Awotunde spent some time in Europe competing in several major international track meets against some of the top throwers in the world.
Awotunde, a Delsea graduate, threw a PR of 71-7 3/4 at the Trials in Eugene, missing a spot on the U.S. Team heading for the Olympics in Tokyo by just three inches.
Awotunde started out at the Arena Szewinska Memorial Bydgoszcz Cup at Dzdislaw Krzyskowiak Stadium in Bydgoszcz, Poland, on June 30 where he threw 69-1 1/2 and placed fourth.
From there it was off to the Gyulai István Memorial Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix at the Bregyó Athletic Center in Székesfehérvár in Hungary on July 6, where he threw 71-2 1/4 – just 5 inches off his PR – and placed third.
And on July 11, he placed second at the Kamila Skolimowska Festival at Stadion OPO Cetniewo in Władysławowo, Poland, with a throw of 70-6 1/2.
Awotunde’s 71-7 3/4 ranks No. 44 in world history, 19 in U.S. history and No. 9 in the world this year.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 