FIL-AMERICAN Willie Morrison had an encouraging windup to his 2024 campaign over the weekend, throwing 18.78 meters to take the silver medal in the men’s shot put event of the Husker Holiday Open meet at the Devaney Center Indoor track oval in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Morrison, 28, had his best attempt on his fifth and penultimate throw to take runner-up honors behind Nebraska varsity athlete Maxwell Oterdahl (19.34) while another Nebraska bet, Cade Moran, settled for the bronze (18.49).
The gentle giant’s toss was below his season best of 19.22 meters when he won the bronze medal in the Asian Throwing Championships in Mokpo, South Korea last June.
“I did okay but there is still a lot to work on,” noted Morrison, who is keen on improving his performance to make the qualifying standard of 21.50 meters for the World Athletics Championships scheduled Sep. 13 to 21, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan.
He will be available for the Philippine Athletics Championships, popularly known as the National Open, set May 1 to 4, 2025 at the New Clark City Athletics Center in Capas, Tarlac and looms as a top bet to regain his shot put crown in the 33rd Thailand Southeast Asian Games in December next year.
Morrison, who holds the SEA Games mark of 18.14 meters when he took the gold in the Vietnam edition in 2022, was lackluster in the 32nd Cambodia Games, placing fifth with a throw of 16.33 meters.
