March 31, 2010
Men's shot put thrower Ryan Whiting has been named ASU's Male Athlete of the Week for the week ending February 3rd. Whiting continued to prove he is the best in the world, as he topped the NCAA, USA, and world lists so far this year with his record throw of 21.25m. His performance helped the Sun Devils at the ASU Invitational, as they captured wins in five events. Next up for the Sun Devils will be the Jim Click Multis on April 1st and 2nd in Tucson. ASU will send its women's heptathlon and men's decathlon athletes to compete in the two-day event hosted by Arizona.
Whiting, the defending outdoor national shot put champion and three-time NCAA indoor champion, wasted little time opening his outdoor campaign as his first throw of the shot put at the ASU Invitational measured 21.25m (69-08.75), which broke his own school record and topped the NCAA, USA and world lists so far this year. Whiting's toss, which won the event by nearly 12 feet, five inches, improves upon his previous school record of 20.99m (68-10.50), which he recorded last year. He is currently one of only two men in the world that have recorded marks of 21 meters or better with the other coming from Andrei Mikhnevich (Bulgaria), who is in at 21.04m.