Jordan Clarke won four NCAA championships at Arizona State and he topped the podium at the 2014 Pan Am Games, yet the Anchorage shot putter's throw on Thursday in Italy arguably ranks as the greatest of his career.
Clarke, 24, finished second at the Diamond League meet in Rome with a season-best effort of 69 feet, 9.75 inches. The former Bartlett High star -- he still owns state records in the shot put and discus -- was runner-up to Germany's David Storl. Storl, the two-time and defending world champion, and 2012 Olympic silver medalist, won with a heave of 70-5.
Clarke's result was especially noteworthy because Diamond League meets, most of which are held in Europe, draw many of the world's best track and field athletes. According to the Diamond League media guide, Clarke won $6,000 for his effort.
Only six men in the world have thrown farther than Clarke this year.
Clarke uncorked his second-place throw on the second of his six attempts, coming just 3.75 inches shy of his personal record of 70-1.50, recorded last year. Clark completed all six throws of the 16-pound shot without fouling, and surpassed 69 feet on two of his efforts.
He is expected to compete in the USA Track & Field Championships later this month in Eugene, Oregon, and battle for a slot in the World Championships, set for August in Beijing, China.
Gaining a spot in the World Championships is exceedingly difficult, given the deep field of American shot putters. While Clarke's throw Thursday has only been surpassed by six men this year, three of them are Americans -- world-leading thrower Joe Kovacs, Ryan Whiting and Reese Hoffa.
Each country can generally place three qualifying athletes in any event at the World Championships. In the U.S., the top three finishers at the national championships qualify for the World Championships as long as they have met the qualifying standard (67-1.25). Clarke is one of nine Americans who have surpassed that mark this season.
But an athlete outside the top three at his national championships can also gain entry into the World Championships if the IAAF, the governing body of world track, chooses to fill the field to a targeted number. The IAAF wants a field of 32 for the men's shot put in Beijing.
Clarke last season finished sixth at the national championships.
Reach reporter Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockey-blog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr