Comenentia, Rachel Tanczos Win Invitational Hammer Competitions; Rhema Otabor Extends NCAA Javelin Lead; Arthur Petersen Wins Men's Javelin

By David Woods for DyeStat

Rudy Winkler pulled out of the hammer throw. So, all Denzel Comenentia could do was pull out a Drake Relays record at the 114th edition of the meet presented by Xtream and powered by Mediacom.

That’s what the 28-year-old Dutchman did in one of four World Athletics Continental Tour throwing events Thursday at Des Moines, Iowa.

Comenentia waited until the sixth round to unleash a throw of 252 feet (76.80 meters). It was not far off his PB of 255-11 (78.01m) from last year at the USATF Throws Festival in Tucson, Ariz.

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“It took me five throws to find it,” he said. “but I was glad to put it together in the last throw.”

Comenentia, whose next meet is a return to Tucson, broke Winkler’s record of 251-8 (76.70m) from last year. Predictably, Comenentia said his focus is on the European Championships and Olympics. He has never made a final at either one.

He is best known for winning a shot/hammer double for Georgia at the 2018 NCAA Division 1 Championships.

Kostas Zaltos of Greece, competing unattached for Minnesota, was second at 242-2 (73.83m) and Brock Eager third at 241-9 (73.68m).

Jordan Geist, a shot putter who won an NCAA indoor/outdoor sweep last year and took bronze at the Pan American Games, was fourth at 240-7 (73.34m). Track & Field News ranked him No. 6 American in both throws in 2023.

As if the women’s hammer could not be more crowded, Rachel Tanczos affirmed she is one to watch at the Olympic Trials, too.

The 24-year-old Notre Dame graduate won with a distance of 227-3 (69.26m). She was an All-American in the weight in college but never scored in the hammer at NCAAs.

“I see myself as a little bit of an underdog,” said Tanczos, the No. 8 American of 2023.

She was dissatisfied with the distance but said she is better adjusted to the post-college scene after completing eligibility in 2022. Olympic Trials will feature three women who have won world medals: Brooke Andersen, DeAnna Price, Janee' Kassanavoid.

“It’s wild, just to think where the women’s hammer is right now,” Tanczos said. “I know I’m going to have to be on my ‘A’ game when it counts.”

Stamatia Scarvelis of Greece was second at 222-2 (67.73).  Erin Reese, the No. 7 American last year, was third at 221-2 (67.42). Mississippi’s Jalani Davis, two-time NCAA champion in the weight, was fourth at 219-6 (66.90m).

Nebraska throwers swept the javelin, which was affected by persistent winds.

Rhema Otabor, of the Bahamas, extended her NCAA lead with a distance of 193-11 (59.12m). That approached the Drake Relays record of 194-4 (59.24m) set by Denise Thiemard, also of Nebraska in 1983 – 41 years ago.

Arthur Petersen, a senior from Denmark, took the men’s title at 261-7 (79.73m).

Otabor won an NCAA title and Pan Am Games silver medal last year. She, too, heads to Tucson next.

“Knowing that there’s more there definitely encourages me,” she said. “This is definitely not my cap.”

Texas A&M’s Lianna Davidson was second at 187-5 (57.13m).

Petersen said he competed at Drake to add rankings points necessary to qualify for the Olympics.

Ethan Dabbs finished second at 254-2 (77.48m). Curtis Thompson, defending U.S. champion and 2023 Pan Am Games gold medalist, was sixth at 240-6 (73.71m).

Contact David Woods at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.