DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake Relays will again be a hub for all things shot put with the return of the World Shot Put Series and another high-level World Athletics Continental Tour (WACT) men's shot put contest in Drake Stadium next week.
 
Last year marked the debut of the World Shot Put Series, a fresh shot put format founded by 3-time defending Olympic champion and world record holder Ryan Crouser. The WSPS is an innovative take on the sport of shot put with a unique scoring system and rulebook tailored to increase energy and drama in the stands and circle. Further details on the World Shot Put Series can be found from the original event announcement here.
 
"The return of the World Shot Put Series to the historic Drake Fieldhouse has created tremendous excitement, not only for our fans, but for the athletes who thrive on competing in such a one-of-a-kind atmosphere," said Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays Blake Boldon. "Last year's inaugural event delivered dramatic moments and world-class performances, and with the elite men's field we've assembled, we fully expect another fiercely competitive competition. Fans should be ready for massive throws, both in the Fieldhouse and Drake Stadium, and explosive action that makes the shot put one of the most thrilling events of the Drake Relays."
 
Roger Steen captured the inaugural World Shot Put Series title at Drake in 2025, winning on a tiebreaker over Tripp Piperi, and returns as the defending Drake Relays in-stadium champion. He also claimed the 2026 U.S. Indoor title and has qualified for three World Indoor Championships, earning a silver medal in 2025 and a bronze medal in 2026.
 
Rajindra Campbell, Chukwueba Enekwechi, and Josh Awotunde, three more returners, were also members of the inaugural WSPS field. Campbell owns both the indoor and outdoor Jamaican national records and earned a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympic Games. A three-time World Championships qualifier, he placed sixth at the 2025 Drake Relays and continues to rank among the world's elite shot putters. Enekwechi placed seventh at the 2025 Drake Relays. A two-time Olympic finalist, including a recent sixth-place finish in Paris, he is a five-time World Outdoor Championships qualifier with a fifth-place finish in 2025. Awotunde finished third at the 2026 U.S. Indoor Championships and sixth at the 2026 World Indoor Championships. His strong 2025 season included a fourth-place finish at the Drake Relays, victories at the U.S. Outdoor and NACAC Championships, and a seventh-place finish at the World Outdoor Championships.
 
Nik Curtiss, a former University of Iowa All-American and the Hawkeye's program record holder, caps the professional portion of the WSPS field.
 
The World Shot Put Series will again feature a "Challenger" division made up of a collection of rising collegiate stars. This year's WSPS Challengers include Air Force Academy All-American Texas Tanner, University of Iowa standout Wisdom Williams, University of Northern Iowa All-Conference performer Carson Lienau, hometown heroes Cooper Cerese of Drake University and Carolyn Miller of Grand View University, and Simpson College rookie David Souvongsavath. Williams and Miller will be the first women throwers to compete in the WSPS at the Drake Relays.
 
Campbell, Enekwechi, Steen, Awotunde, and Curtiss will also be competing in the WACT men's shot put inside Drake Stadium on Saturday, April 25.
 
American contender Jason Swarens, who was sixth at the 2026 U.S. Indoor Championships and finished eighth at the 2025 World University Games, Cade Moran, a junior and Big Ten Conference medalist at the University of Nebraska, CJ Licata, the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships runner-up, fill out the remainder of the WACT shot put roster.
 
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