Armstrong locks up Diamond League shot put title

Canadian Dylan Armstrong continued his strong season on the international track and field circuit Wednesday, winning the shot put event at a Diamond League meet in Zurich to essentially clinch the season title.

The 30-year-old native of Kamloops, B.C., fresh off his silver medal at the IAAF world track and field championships last Friday in Daegu, South Korea, heaved a winning throw of 21.63 metres to all but lock up the 2011 Diamond League shot put title.

Ryan Whiting of the U.S. was second Wednesday with a toss of 21.52, while fellow American Reece Hoffa was third with 21.39. World champion Thomas Storl of Germany was fifth with a throw of 21.23.

Armstrong now has 17 points on the season, well ahead of second-place Hoffa's eight points. All the Canadian needs to do is show up and participate in the final in Belgium to claim his winnings — $40,000 US in prize money, plus a diamond-encrusted trophy worth about the same.

Armstrong has been a model of consistency throughout the season, beating every major competitor on the European circuit. At the Canadian championships in June, he threw a Canadian record of 22.21 metres, which is still the longest throw in the world this year.

It's the second year in a row a Canadian athlete has won a Diamond League title. Last season, Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Whitby, Ont., took the crown in the women's 100-metre hurdles.

The final Diamond League meet is scheduled for Sept. 16 in Brussels, Belgium.

CBCSports.ca will have all the action from the Zurich Diamond League on Thursday at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. CBC Sports will also broadcast the event Saturday at 3 p.m. ET/noon PT.