Hickey Places Fourth

Aug. 19, 2006

BEIJING, CHINA –

University of Iowa sophomore thrower John Hickey placed fourth in the shot put at the 2006 International Association of Athletics Foundation (IAAF) World Junior Championships Saturday at the Chaoyang Sport Centre in Beijing, China.

According to the USA Track and Field web site, Hickey placed fourth with a personal-best throw of 65-2 with the six-kilogram implement. The second round attempt was originally called a foul but was reinstated at the end of the competition following a protest by the U.S. team. Hunt Margus of Estonia won the event with a throw of 67-4 1/4.

“It was a good competition,” Hickey said once the protest was finally resolved. “The competition was at a level I’ve never seen before and it motivated me to do well. But after my second throw, the protest threw my concentration. I was frustrated with the controversy, but it helped me to gain experience and I’m a better thrower for it.”

Hickey, a native of Piermont, NY, won the U.S. Junior shot put title in June to advance to the IAAF meet. He led the IAAF field going into Saturday’s final, throwing a 63-11 1/2 in the prelims.

IAAF World Junior Championships Shot Put Finals Results
Place – Name (Country) – Result
1. – Hunt Margus (EST) – 67-4 1/4 (20.53 m)
2. – El-Moaty Mostafa Abdul (EGY) – 66-1 (20.14 m)
3. – Guo Yanxiang (CHN) – 65-6 1/4 (19.97 m)
4. – John Hickey (USA) – 65-2 (19.86 m)
5. – Mohammad Mashari (KUW) – 64-11 1/4 (19.79 m)
6. – Veliz Carlos (CUB) – 64-10 (19.76 m)
7. – Vij Sourabh (IND) – 64-9 3/4 (19.75 m)
8. – Luozys Paulius (LTU) – 63-1 1/2 (19.24 m)
9. – Hoffman Jan Petrus (RSA) – 61-1 1/2 (18.63 m)
10. – Hepperle Tobais (GER) – 59-10 1/4 (18.24 m)
11. – Stevens Joe (AUG) – 59-9 (18.21 m)
12. – Kafamfilov Rosen (BUL) – 59-7 (18.16 m)