Zunic is the first man in Croatian history to win a World Championships medal.
Zunic Wins Bronze, Makes Croatian History at World Championships
Sunday, August 6, 2017 | Track and Field
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Stipe Zunic converted to the shot put from the javelin throw in the fall of 2013
By: Zach Dirlam
LONDON – Shot put thrower Stipe Zunicclaimed the first IAAF World Championships medal in Croatian history, winning bronze Sunday (Aug. 6) night in London.
Zunic's top throw of 21.46 meters (70 feet, 5 inches), just two centimeters off the Croatian record he set in May, came on his second attempt. That throw put him in third place, where he remained for the rest of the competition.
In morning action, five Gators qualified for semifinals.
All three 400 hurdlers advanced. USATF Outdoor Championships bronze medalist TJ Holmes won his heat with the fourth-fastest overall time of the prelims (49.35 seconds). The reigning Olympic gold medalist and a two-time world champion in the event, Kerron Clement, won his heat in 49.46 seconds. This year's American champion, Eric Futch, advanced on time as the second-fastest non-automatic qualifier (49.57).
Four-time Olympic medalist and six-time World Championships medalist Novlene Williams-Mills, the Jamaican team captain, took third in her 400 meters preliminary heat, automatically qualifying for the semifinals.
Olympian 110-meter hurdler Eddie Lovett qualified through the morning preliminaries, but bowed out in the evening semifinals.
Monday (Aug. 7) evening's action sees two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist Christian Taylor, as well as two-time Olympic silver medalist Will Claye compete in triple jump qualifying.
Clement, Futch, Holmes, and Williams-Mills will all compete in their respective semifinals, while incoming freshman Hakim Sani Brown will look for redemption in the 200 meters preliminary following a disappointing exit in the 100 meters semifinals Saturday night.
Monday's broadcast schedule, as well as a complete table of the Gators' results and competition schedule are below.
Quote of the Day
"I trained before in (in) kickboxing. Had 75 matches, was a world junior champion in kickboxing. I had a lot of adrenaline growing up in sports. When you step in a ring and someone tries to knock you out, it's a different kind of adrenaline. This event, I need more people, I need more adrenaline, because I use it really good, as I showed tonight." –Stipe Zunic, World Championships shot put bronze medalist on using adrenaline in competition
Photo of the Day
Stipe Zunic has gone from a 17-meter shot put thrower to a World Championships bronze medalist in just four years. (Photo: Jeff Cohen)
Social Media Roundup
Numerous #Gators reacted to Stipe's big moment at World Championships ??
"I came here (ranked) 13th. I gave my best at the right moment. I think there was a lot of pressure that affected some of the competitors. All of the hard work we all put in showed in such a high quality competition with these giants. For my first World Championships, it's been an amazing experience, very uplifting atmosphere. It's been a phenomenal experience." –Stipe Zunic on the competition tonight
"This is my first World Championships and the first medal from a major event. I have only been a shot putter for three years. I did javelin before, I was ready for London (Olympics) 2012 as a javelin thrower, but I suffered from a shoulder injury so I could not continue. I was 13th coming to this competition but I managed to handle this pressure well, stayed completely sound, stayed just two centimeters from my personal best and national record so I deserve this medal." –Stipe Zunic on earning his medal tonight (courtesy of the IAAF)
IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS MEET INFORMATION (all times Eastern)
18. Eddie Lovett, U.S. Virgin Islands (2011-14) – 13.67 [+0.3]
110mH (M)*
12. Lovett – 13.41 [-1.2] | Advanced to semifinals (automatic)
400mH (M)*
4. TJ Holmes, United States (2015-17) – 49.35 | Advanced to semifinals (automatic)
8. Kerron Clement, United States (2004-05) – 49.46 | Advanced to semifinals (automatic)
13. Eric Futch, United States (2014-17) – 49.57 | Advanced to semifinals (time)
SP (M)
3. Stipe Zunic, Croatia (2011-15) – 21.46 meters (70-5) |Bronze medalist; first World Championships medalist in Croatian history
Monday, August 7 (unless denoted otherwise all events are finals)
Time
Gators, Country (Years at UF) – Event
1:30 p.m.
Hakim Sani Brown, Japan (Class of 2017) – Men's 200 meters (prelims)
1:35 p.m.
Will Claye, United States (2010-11); Christian Taylor, United States (2009-11) – Men's Triple Jump (qualifying)
3:20 p.m.
Kerron Clement, United States (2004-05); Eric Futch, United States (2014-17); TJ Holmes, United States (2015-17) – Men's 400-meter Hurdles (semifinals)
