DES MOINES, Iowa — A premier selection of elite shot put throwers had their talents on full display on Wednesday evening in the the Team Shot Put Showcase at the Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom.
 
U.S. Olympians Jessica Ramsey and Payton Otterdahl won the Drake Relays Team Shot Put Showcase with each of their best throws adding up to 133 feet -7.5 inches/40.73m in the Drake Fieldhouse.
 
The men's competition featured nine throws over 70 feet highlighted by Otterdahl throwing a personal best 74-1.5/22.59m on his second attempt which ranks No. 2 on the 2024 world list trailing only two-time Olympic champ Ryan Crouser who threw 74-9.75/22.80m at the 2024 U.S. Indoor Championships. Otterdahl, who was 10th in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, had four throws over 71 feet.
 
"I've been coming to the Drake Relays since 2015 and this is my first time winning the shot put competition," said Otterdahl, a former two-time NCAA champ from North Dakota State. "Hopefully, on Saturday, I'll be able to earn of those [white flags] finally."
 
Ramsey struggled with early fouls but came through in the third round with a best of 59-6.25/18.14m.
 
"Payton gave me a little hype," said Ramsey, the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials champ, who was a finalist at the Tokyo Olympics and recently returned to action after giving birth to her daughter. "I couldn't thank him enough."
 
Axelina Johannson, the reigning 2023 NCAA Outdoor champ from Nebraska, finished second in the women's shot put at 59-4.75/18.10m. Johannson earned another silver when she teamed up with Tripp Piperi and took second place in the team race.
 
Rajindra Campbell, who entered the competition ranked No. 4 in the world, finished second in the men's shot put at 71-8.25/21.85m.  Nigerian Olympian Chuk Enekwechi was third at 70-8/21.54m. Both throws occurred in the fifth round. Enekwuchi and Josie Schaefer took third as a tandem.
 
Team Results
1st – 40.73m, Jessica Ramsey & Payton Otterdahl
2nd – 38.91m, Axelina Johannson & Tripp Piperi
3rd – 38.79m, Josie Schaefer & Chukwuebuka Enekwechi
4th – 38.58m, Jessica Woodard & Rajindra Campbell
 
Women's Individual Bests
Jessica Ramsey, 18.14m/59'6.25"
Axelina Johnnson, 18.10m/59'4.75"
Josie Schaefer, 17.25m/56'7.25"
Jessica Woodard, 16.73m/54'10.75"
 
Men's Individual Bests
Payton Otterdahl, 22.59m/74'1.5"
Rajindra Campbell, 21.85m/71'8.25"
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, 21.54m/70'8"
Tripp Piperi, 20.81m/68'3.25"
 
All the athletes will compete in the Drake Relays WACT invitational shot puts at Drake Stadium Saturday.