In first competition since September, Otterdahl produces lifetime-best 74-1.50 (22.59m), with Ramsey achieving top women’s mark at 59-6.25 (18.14m), as pair of U.S. Olympians prevail with combined total of 133-7.75 (40.73m) in second year of event

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Photos by Lily Dozier and Ava Kitzi

DES MOINES, Iowa – Payton Otterdahl didn’t expect to rescue the shot put competition at the 114th Drake Relays Presented by Xtream and Powered by Mediacom.

After all, Ryan Crouser is irreplaceable at any event around the world.

But Otterdahl’s lifetime-best effort of 74 feet, 1.50 inches (22.59m) in the second round Wednesday in the second edition of the Team Shot Put Showcase was a huge highlight on a night that saw him and Jessica Ramsey triumph in the co-ed competition at the Drake Fieldhouse.

Ramsey overcame two early fouls to produce a third-round mark of 59-6.25 (18.14m), as she and Otterdahl achieved a combined total of 133-7.75 (40.73m) based on their best performances.

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Both U.S. Olympians shared a winner’s prize of $3,000, with Otterdahl and Ramsey both being presented commemorative Drake Relays watches.

Otterdahl, who hadn’t competed since September at the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field in Oregon, elevated to No. 2 in the world this year, trailing only the 74-9.75 (22.80m) effort achieved by Crouser in February at the USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.

Otterdahl was responsible for four of the nine 70-foot marks in the men’s competition.

Crouser, who triumphed in both the indoor Team Shot Put Showcase with a 73-6.75 (22.42m) effort as well as the elite outdoor competition with a 73-5.25 (22.38m) performance last year at Drake Relays, was unable to compete in Des Moines this year as a result of a minor injury.

Adrian Piperi, who teamed with Maggie Ewen to win last year’s Team Shot Put Showcase with a combined total of 134-2 (40.90m), joined forces Wednesday with Nebraska standout and Swedish record holder Axelina Johansson to place second overall at 127-8 (38.91m).

Johansson had a fourth-round effort of 59-4.75 (18.10m), with Piperi twice producing marks of 68-3.25 (20.81m).

Chuk Enekwechi, a former Purdue standout from Nigeria, teamed with Wisconsin graduate Josie Schaefer to take third at 127-3.25 (38.79m).

Enekwechi achieved a fifth-round mark of 70-8 (21.54m), with Schaefer securing a sixth-round effort of 56-7.25 (17.25m).

Rajindra Campbell of Jamaica teamed with Jessica Woodard to finish fourth at 126-7 (38.58m).

Campbell had a fifth-round performance of 71-8.25 (21.85m), with Woodward achieving a third-round mark of 54-10.75 (16.73m).

All eight athletes are scheduled to participate again Saturday in the elite men’s and women’s shot put competitions at Jim Duncan Track inside Drake Stadium.