Posted: May 25, 2004

Athletics: Christian Cantwell to appear on USATF teleconference

The world’s most dominant shot putter in 2004, Christian Cantwell, will appear on a USATF Teleconference Wednesday, May 26, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time/10 a.m. Pacific.

Cantwell is coming off a historic win May 22 at the Home Depot Invitational in Carson, California, and will continue to compete on USA Track & Field’s 2004 Outdoor Golden Spike Tour this Monday, May 31, at the Payton Jordan U.S. Open in Stanford, Calif. The meet will be broadcast Tuesday, June 1, from 9-10 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN2.

At the Home Depot Invitational, Cantwell posted the best throw in the world in 2004 with a personal best of 22.35m/73 feet, 4 inches – nearly 3.5 feet farther than the world’s next-best 2004 performer, John Godina. At the competition, Cantwell had six legal throws over 70 feet – an accomplishment that only one other thrower, world record holder Randy Barnes, is believed ever to have accomplished. It was Cantwell’s 11th consecutive victory in competition and gave him a convincing win over a field that included three-time world champion Godina, Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson, and world indoor silver medalist Reese Hoffa.

A mammoth of a man, the 6-6, 290-pound Cantwell first grabbed international attention by winning the 2003 World Athletics Final in Monaco – the finale of the international season that pits all the top-ranked athletes in the world, in each event, against each other.

In 2004 Cantwell has left no question of his dominance, winning the 2004 indoor world and U.S. crowns. His throw of 21.95m/72-0.25 indoors at his home facility in Columbia, Mo., had been his personal best heading into the outdoor season.

Born in Jefferson City, Mo., Cantwell went to high school in Eldon, Mo., and graduated from the University of Missouri in 2003. For a complete biography of Christian Cantwell, visit the Athlete Bios section of www.usatf.org

From USATF.org.