Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you have all been waiting for...
Jackson Cantwell is back atop the national rankings in the Shot Put.
At Friday's Jim Vaughan Invitational in Springfield, Nixa's once-in-a-generation talent thrower/offensive lineman put a torch to the national Shot Put rankings, throwing 22.41m (73-6.25), a new US No. 1 mark by nearly five feet. His mark was also a mere ten inches behind the National Junior Class record of 74-4.5, making him the second best junior shot putter in US history with plenty of season left to go. He is closing in on his personal best of 22.81m (74-10).
As a result of the national ranking, Cantwell is also, of course, tops in the state of Missouri by four and a half meters. Parkway North's Mark Goldman threw 17.94m (58-10.25) at the Parkway Quad and sits second in the state, but has just under 15 feet to make up before he is in line with Cantwell's season best. When it comes to Class 5 competition, it is his teammate and close companion Hayden Mays who sits second with the 17.36m (56-11.5) personal best he threw at this meet.
Check out what Cantwell had to say after his monster throw on Friday, including details about an upcoming much-awaited college commitment decision and goals for the rest of the season.