News13 Apr 2008


Hoffa and Carter in fine form

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Reese Hoffa threw an almighty 21.49m in the qualifying round of the men's shot (© Getty Images)

Reese Hoffa made his 2008 outdoor debut a notable one, winning the Shot Put with at the Spec Towns Invitational in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday (11 Apr).

In his first contest after taking the silver medal at the World Indoor Championships last month in Valencia, the reigning World champion outdoors won the competition with a 21.27m effort on his home track.

Most of the rest of the world's shot put exponents would be way beyond their personal bests with a 21m effort but by his own illustrious standards it was a modest opener for the 30-year-old. Last year Hoffa debuted outdoors with a 21.84m put, before going on to win IAAF World Athletics Tour meets in Dakar and Doha, and eventually producing the world’s farthest toss of 22.43m in London as a prelude to his Osaka triumph. Hoffa was unpressed here however, winning by more than two metres over Rhuben Williams (19.16m).

Sprint double for X-Man

Prepping for his announced double dash at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June, Xavier ‘X-Man’ Carter took a sprint double within a one hour and 15 minute time frame, winning the 100m in 10.16 sec and the 200m in 20.25. The latter was his first half-lap effort of the season while his 100m performance was just shy 0.01 seconds of his season’s best from one week ago. Winning by considerable margins, both were, as with Hoffa, unpressed efforts.

Elsewhere, Justin Gaymon from the University of Georgia upset internationals LaRon Bennett and LaBronze Garrett in the 400m Hurdles, clocking 49.70 sec, currently the fastest among collegians this season. Bennett was a distant second in 50.28, with Garrett well back in fourth.

Shalonda Solomon, the 2004 World Junior 200m champion, collected a dash double of her own, winning the 100m in 11.42 and the 200 in 23.11 (w+2.6).

Eric Mitchum won the 110m Hurdles in 13.53 ahead of collegiate standout Jason Richardson (13.58).

Bob Ramsak for the IAAF

 

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