The shot put event at the Zagreb Fountains, held under the name Ivan Ivančić Memorial for the past five years, is favourite with the world’s best shot putters. This is also proved by this year’s start list.
Current world champion Tom Walsh is coming to Zagreb in excellent form. He won the Diamond League meeting in Paris with 22.44 m. Walsh is a three-time winner in Zagreb.
Current world and Olympic vice-champion and 2015 world champion Joe Kovacs is in equally good form. He threw 22.31 at the U.S. Nationals at the end of July. The start list also includes his fellow countryman Darrel Hill, who threw 22.11 at the U.S. Trials and whose last year’s personal record was 22.44.
Up against them in Zagreb will be excellent Polish shot putter Konrad Bukowiecki with this year’s personal record of 21.97 and – Filip Mihaljević. Croatian record holder threw a very good 21.22 in Paris, and his record of 21.84 is the ninth result of the season in the IAAF rankings.
Shot Put – Preliminary Start List
Filip Mihaljević CRO
Mesud Pezer BiH
Tom Walsh NZL
Darrell Hill USA
Joe Kovacs USA
Konrad Bukowiecki POL
Wictor Petersson SWE
Jonathan Jones USA