DES MOINES, Iowa – 2025 Drake Relays Athletes Hall of Fame inductee Ryan Crouser will not only return to Des Moines for his enshrinement, but he will also be hosting and competing in a brand-new shot put competition, the World Shot Put Series, on Wednesday, Apr. 23 in the historic Drake Fieldhouse.
 
""I'm very excited about the launch of WSPS as an opportunity to grow the sport of track and field, and highlight what makes our sports special," Crouser said. "It is the pinnacle of human performance. WSPS at Drake Relays is a great collaboration with the Drake Relays being one of the long-standing invitational meets showing their willingness to innovate and grow the sport"
 
The World Shot Put Series (WSPS) will feature two categories of competitors. The first group is the "open field" in which area collegiate are invited to compete in the same arena that the professionals do. It will create an exciting opportunity for area sports fans to get a firsthand glimpse of how challenging the event is and witness the athletic contrast between top collegians and those at the pinnacle of the sport. The "professional field" will feature approximately eight of the world's best throwers with a mixture of American and international representation.
 
The contest will be organized in a "king of the ring" format similar to high jump. Throwers will be tasked with trying to heave their shot put past a designated line in order to advance in the competition. Athletes will get two attempts to clear the targeted distance with back-to-back misses resulting in elimination. Placement will be determined by the furthest line cleared with ties broken by the total of all misses by each competitor.
 
Clearance distances could start as low as 30 feet and increase in segments of 10 feet until the throwers reach 60 feet. From there, the line to gain will bump up by two feet as athletes progress, until the contest reaches the 70-foot mark. After that, any remaining throwers will be tested in 1-foot increments. The last athlete standing can select the next or final distance to secure the win. In the event of a tie for the title, the contestants in the stalemate will compete in a throw-off at the last distance.
 
Officials will be more involved in the WSPS than traditional track and field and will be wearing more traditional referee garb. Donning black and white striped shirts and whistles, officials will be key in the operations of the event and determining eliminations and the eventual champion. The officiating team will consist of four event administrators, the first is the head referee located at the throwing circle who interacts with the athletes and has the final determination on successful or missed throws. The organizing official will record the attempts while the circle official observes for foot fouls and other infractions. Lastly, the field official will be down range of the throwers and provide initial signals for passing or unsuccessful attempts.
 
Referee signals will be similar to those seen in other sporting events. A line clearance will be signified by the referee extending both arms up in the air, like a touchdown in football. A failed attempt will be signaled with both arms waving in front of the official parallel to the ground, another loan from football like a missed field goal or incomplete pass. An elimination will be signified by a sharp fist pump in the direction of an athlete, like a baseball umpire calling a runner out. Another piece borrowed from the game of football is a measurement tool. The chain measurement system will be used to determine distances on throws that are too close to call with the naked eye.
 
Athletes will also be entitled to one challenge during the competition. Each professional competitor can throw their challenge flag into the ring to earn an additional try. A missed challenge attempt will count for two misses on an individual's scorecard. Participants will also be rewarded for not using their challenge as finishing the competition with ownership of your flag will remove a miss from your record.
 
The WSPS will provide a fresh format for contestants and fans alike. The traditional shot put structure featuring six throws with an individual's top mark taken for placement has been unchanged for over 100 years. This updated format will provide minimal measuring for a faster-paced event. The WSPS will also place more significance on each attempt with eliminations possible after just the second toss and highlight the perspective on the difficulty associated with shot put.
 
"The World Shot Put Series is yet another testament to the innovative and inclusive nature of the Drake Relays," said Blake Boldon, Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays. "We're thrilled that Ryan Crouser will be back in Des Moines for a multitude of reasons, and the WSPS is at the top of that list. In our 115th year, we continue to innovate in our sport so it's especially invigorating to see the world record holder take matters into his own hands after a century of consistent competition format in his event. Track and field fans are going to want to be a part of the new chapter of Relays history."
 
The athletes participating in the World Shot Put Series will be encouraged to engage with their competitors, officials, and fans in attendance, something not often experienced during traditional shot put events. The WSPS is sure to be an exciting addition to the 2025 Drake Relays week lineup.
 
The World Shot Put Series event will be free to the public. Start time, entrance time, and broadcasting information will be available soon.
 
All Session tickets and ticket packages for the 115th Drake Relays April 23-26 are available now at https://godrakebulldogs.evenue.net/events/DR.
 
Pre-sale for single session tickets begins on Thursday, March 27.