(Des Moines, IA) – Shot put will once again take center stage at the Drake Relays as the World Shot Put Series returns alongside a high-level World Athletics Continental Tour (WACT) men’s competition set for next week inside Drake Stadium.
Last year marked the debut of the World Shot Put Series, a new format created by three-time Olympic champion and world record holder Ryan Crouser. The series introduces a unique scoring system designed to bring more energy and drama to both the throwing circle and the stands, quickly establishing itself as a fan-favorite addition to the Relays.
“The return of the World Shot Put Series to the historic Drake Fieldhouse has created tremendous excitement for both fans and athletes,” said Drake Relays Director Blake Boldon. “Last year delivered world-class performances and dramatic moments, and with another elite field assembled, we expect an even more competitive atmosphere. Fans can look forward to massive throws and explosive action both in the Fieldhouse and inside Drake Stadium.”
Roger Steen claimed the inaugural World Shot Put Series title in 2025, winning a tiebreaker over Tripp Piperi. Steen returns as the defending Drake Relays champion and continues to build momentum after capturing the 2026 U.S. Indoor title. He has also earned three World Indoor Championships appearances, highlighted by a silver medal in 2025 and bronze in 2026.
Several top competitors from last year’s field also return, including Rajindra Campbell, Chukwueba Enekwechi, and Josh Awotunde. Campbell, the Jamaican national record holder both indoors and outdoors, earned bronze at the 2024 Olympic Games and remains among the world’s elite. Enekwechi, a two-time Olympic finalist, placed sixth in Paris and owns five World Championships appearances. Awotunde is coming off a strong stretch that includes a third-place finish at the 2026 U.S. Indoor Championships and a sixth-place showing at the World Indoor Championships, along with multiple major victories in 2025.
Nik Curtiss, a former University of Iowa All-American and program record holder, rounds out the professional field for the World Shot Put Series.
The event will also feature a “Challenger” division showcasing rising collegiate talent. This year’s group includes Air Force All-American Texas Tanner, Iowa standout Wisdom Williams, Northern Iowa’s Carson Lienau, Drake’s Cooper Cerese, Grand View’s Carolyn Miller, and Simpson College freshman David Souvongsavath. Williams and Miller will make history as the first women to compete in the World Shot Put Series at the Drake Relays.
Many of the same elite throwers—Campbell, Enekwechi, Steen, Awotunde, and Curtiss—will also compete in the WACT men’s shot put competition inside Drake Stadium on Saturday, April 25.
Additional competitors in the WACT field include Jason Swarens, who placed sixth at the 2026 U.S. Indoor Championships, Nebraska’s Cade Moran, a Big Ten medalist, and CJ Licata, the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships runner-up.
Tickets to the 2026 Drake Relays are available for purchase here.
World Shot Put Series Lineup
Josh Awotunde
Rajindra Campbell
Cooper Cerese
Nik Curtiss
Chukwueba Enekwechi
Carson Lienau
Carolyn Miller
David Souvongsavath
Roger Steen
Texas Tanner
Wisdom Williams
Drake Relays Men’s Shot Put Lineup
Josh Awotunde
Rajindra Campbell
Nik Curtiss
Chukwueba Enekwechi
CJ Licata
Cade Moran
Roger Steen
Jason Swarens
Texas Tanner
