Ryan Crouser produces third best indoor shot put performance

MANHATTAN, Kansas – A shot put mark of 74 feet, 1 inch (22.58) announced Ryan Crouser’s return to competition during an indoor meet hosted by Kansas State on Saturday. The winning distance, just three-quarters of an inch shy of Crouser’s indoor career best, ranks as the third best performance on the all-time world indoor list.

After an 2020 outdoor season in which Crouser produced numerous impressive series, he repeated that feat during the competition in Manhattan with the following set of marks: 71-2 ¾ (21.71), 71-10 ¾ (21.91), 71-5 ½ (21.78), 72-0 ¾ (21.96), 74-1 (22.58) and 72-1 (21.97).

The winning toss by Crouser, who is in his second year as a volunteer assistant with the Razorbacks, also generated the best shot put mark ever produced in the month of December. The previous best mark in December was 70-5 ¼ (21.47) set in 2001 by Janus Robberts of South Africa, who was competing for SMU in Norman, Oklahoma.

In the history of indoor shot put competitions, including secondary marks by the same person, there are 112 indoor marks at 71-2 ¾ (21.71) and better. Crouser produced six of those marks in this competition.

Back in February of 2020, Crouser set an indoor career best of 74-1 ¾ (22.60) to win the USATF Championship, which came within two and a half inches from the indoor world record of 74-4 ¼ (22.66) set by Randy Barnes in 1989. Crouser now has produced three of the top six marks ever indoors.

His 74-1 effort on Saturday marks the 44^th shot put performance to surpass the 74-foot barrier all-time indoors and outdoors, including marks from a series, and Crouser owns 22 of those performances. East Germany’s Ulf Timmermann is second to Crouser with five efforts over 74 feet.

World Indoor List | Shot Put