Ryan Crouser and Lijiao Gong Win Shot Put at the Port of Hercule in Monaco

By Adam Kopet

The men's and women's shot put for the Monaco Diamond League meeting were held a day early at the Port of Hercule, providing a street meet like atmosphere to one of the top meets in the world.

Ryan Crouser won the men's competition returning to the realm above 22 meters. Crouser won with his fourth-round mark of 72-4.25 (22.05m). His had failed to surpass 22 meters in his past two competitions, but was able to do so once again.

RESULTS

Crouser finished ahead of Darrell Hill, who finished second with a mark of 71-3.25 (21.72m). New Zealand's Tom Walsh, the reigning world champion, finished fifth.

The competition itself was a back-and-forth affair with at least four different leaders throughout. In all, seven men surpassed 69-6.75 (21.20m) in a single competition for the first time in history.

At the #MonacoDL, seven guys have thrown beyond 21.20m in the shot. First time in history that has happened.

— Jon Mulkeen (@Statman_Jon) July 19, 2018

In the women's competition, it was China's Lijiao Gong who came away the winner as the only woman to surpass 20 meters with a mark of 66-7.75 (20.31m). Raven Saunders finished second with a season's best 64-6.50 (19.67m).

New Zealand's Valerie Adams continued her return to form after taking 2017 to give birth, placing fourth in a season's best 63-4.25 (19.31m)

Maggie Ewen finished fifth with a mark of 61-1.25 (18.62m) and Michelle Carter finished seventh with a mark of 59-2.25 (18.04m).

The remainder of the Monaco Diamond League schedule continues Friday.