Ryan Crouser (© Errol Anderson)
In-form world medallists Ryan Crouser, Kristjan Ceh and Marileidy Paulino will look to continue their strong seasons when they compete at the Ostrava Golden Spike, the 11th Gold meeting in this year’s World Athletics Continental Tour, on 27 June.
Using his new technique, Crouser improved his own world shot put record at the most recent World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event in Los Angeles. Throwing 23.56m, the US Olympic and world champion added 19cm to the previous world record he recorded in 2021.
The 30-year-old has already competed twice in Ostrava, first in 2018 when he finished fourth and then in 2020 when he won with a meeting record throw of 22.43m.
For this year’s competition the shot put sector will have a new position, in the direction of the 100m run near the pole vault. Among those going up against Crouser will be Czech record-holder Tomas Stanek.
Joining them in throws action in Ostrava is Slovenia’s world discus champion Ceh. The 24-year-old has surpassed 70 metres in two competitions so far this season, throwing 70.89m and 70.32m to win the Diamond League meetings in Doha and Rabat, respectively. He will surely have his eye on the long-standing Golden Spike record of 68.06m set by Cuba’s Luis Delis in 1983.
"I am looking forward to Ostrava and I believe that I will show some long throws," said Ceh.
Paulino has also impressed already this season. The Olympic and world 400m silver medallist is unbeaten so far this year and most recently improved her Dominican Republic record to 48.98 to win at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix.
“I have only positive news about Ostrava, about the audience and the fast track,” said Paulino, who will target the meeting record of 49.67, also set in 1983. “It will be an honour for me to try to break one of the oldest meeting records.”
Sweden’s world pole vault record-holder Mondo Duplantis has already been announced for the Golden Spike and will also have a meeting record in his sights as he looks to better the 5.93m set by Sam Kendricks and soar over six metres yet again.
Organisers for World Athletics
