Delsea graduate Josh Awotunde finished the best season of his life when he placed fifth in the shot put over the weekend at the Profontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore.
Awotunde threw 69-8 1/2, missing the 70-foot barrier by just 3 1/2 inches. Awotunde reached 70 feet in four meets this year, culminating in a 71-8 when he placed fifth at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June at the same Hayward Field facility.
That 71-8 ranks No. 44 in world history, 19 in U.S. history and No. 9 in the world this year. It’s the No. 12 throw in U.S. Olympic Trials history.
Pre was Awotunde’s first meet in six weeks, since he competed in three meets in Europe in late June and July, with a best throw 71-2 1/4 at the Gyulai István Memorial Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix at the Bregyó Athletic Center in Székesfehérvár, Hungary.
At Pre, Awotunde opened with a throw of 65-2 1/4 followed by a 65-2 1/2 before his 69-8 1/2. He fouled on his two remaining throws.
Awotunde entered the 2021 season with a lifetime best of 69-3 3/4 from a meet in Los Angeles in April of 2019, so he wound up surpassing that in five meets and on at least eight throws.
