Campbell throws beyond 23 metres to win Diamond trophy and extend national record

Rajindra Campbell produced a 23.08-metre throw in Brussels to win the men’s shot put at the Wanda Diamond League Final and deliver one of the meet’s biggest performances.

The Jamaican had already broken the national record with a 22.62-metre effort in the second round. His final throw surpassed that mark, as well as the meeting record and the world lead. Only three Americans have thrown farther in the event: Ryan Crouser, Joe Kovacs and Randy Barnes.

Campbell dominated the contest. His opening throw of 22.25 metres would still have been enough to win, while American Jordan Geist finished second with 22.23 metres and Kovacs took third with 22.09 metres.

The victory was Campbell’s fifth national record of the year. He had improved the mark to 22.34 metres in China in May, then raised it to 22.44 in Zagreb, Croatia, and 22.59 in Brescia, Italy, the previous weekend. He also became the third Jamaican to win a Diamond trophy at the meet, after Oblique Seville won the 100 metres and Tajay Gayle took the long jump on Friday.