Whiting captures gold in shot put at NACAC Under 23 Championships
The 208 NACAC Under 23 Championship track and field meet came a close Sunday in Toluca, Mexico, with the lone member of the Arizona State University program competing on the day, Ryan Whiting, winning the shot put to five the Sun Devils their fourth gold medal of the meet that began Friday morning. The medal was Whiting’s second of the meet as he also took second in the discus on Friday.
Whiting, a rising junior for the Sun Devils, led from the beginning as his toss of 18.30m in the first round was not only his shortest throw of the day, but also easily won the meet. Whiting improved on all of his legal throws from there, hitting tosses of 18.40m and 18.73m before two fouls were recorded. In the sixth and final round, Whiting hit a mark of 19.46m, easily putting him ahead of runner-up and fellow American John Hickey (17.97m).
For the weekend, the trio of Sun Devils, which also included Sarah Stevens and Matt Turner, combined to compete in five total events and taking home four gold medals. Stevens won the shot put and hammer and Turner won the long jump for the other titles on the weekend.
Combined, the Sun Devil trio’s gold medal haul was the most among any university represented on the American team, bettering the three Arkansas won with five other schools winning two. In the overall total, the Sun Devils’ five total medals was the most for the Americans with Arkansas, Georgia, Michigan and Tennessee each winning three total medals for the second-most in the meet.
2008 NACAC Under 23 Championships (Toluca, Mexico)
Sunday’s Events
Men’s Shot Put - Final
1. Ryan Whiting - 19.46m - GOLD MEDAL
Friday’s Events
Women’s Shot Put - Final
1. Sarah Stevens - 16.04m - GOLD MEDAL
Women’s Hammer Throw - Final
1. Sarah Stevens - 62.79m - GOLD MEDAL
Men’s Long Jump - Final
1. Matt Turner - 7.96m - GOLD MEDAL
Men’s Discus - Final
2. Ryan Whiting - 53.47m - SILVER MEDAL
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