Rivals Aiming to Overthrow Godina

There is a new order in the American group of throwers in the shotput.

Christian Cantwell has become the latest star in the event after winning performances at the U.S. and world indoor track and field championships. Reese Hoffa has also emerged as another serious competitor on the world scene.

In a discipline where ego and attitude are as omnipresent as talent and technique, Hoffa announced his arrival and hinted at a changing of the guard in a recent magazine article. John Godina, now heading into elder statesman territory at 31, took it all in with a chuckle as he lay low during the indoor season.

“I’ve been training pretty hard,” Godina said. “If I’ve already retired, then I’ve got a pretty stupid hobby.”

As new rivals such as Cantwell and Hoffa garnered the headlines, Godina has shaken things up in his life as he tries to keep his stature as one of the world’s best throwers.

The former UCLA star and four-time world champion is moving his training base to Mesa, Ariz., where he is building a home. He will marry his fiancee, Kendra Jordan, in October after he attempts to qualify for his third Olympics.

Then there have been the technical changes he has made in the last eight months after a ninth-place showing at the world outdoor championships in August. That disappointing finish and his subsequent absence on the track scene have other competitors wondering whether his time has passed.

“American shotputting has always been a revolving door,” Hoffa said in the latest issue of Track and Field News. “Adam [Nelson] and John have been dominant for a good bit of time, but I knew if I stayed in it long enough and kept working, my time would come.”

Godina viewed the statement as a challenge.

“If I didn’t think I could be a factor, I would be retired,” he said. “I’m not the type of guy that’s going to hang on to the sport tooth and nail and throw 60 feet every Saturday. I don’t like it that much.”

In 1994 and 1995, Godina won five NCAA titles in the shot and discus throw before beginning a long and successful run on the international stage.

In 1995, he won his first world outdoor shotput title a few months after his NCAA double. He would add gold medals in 1997 and 2001 and an indoor title in 2001.

But his consistent 2003 season ended poorly with a mark of 65 feet 1 3/4 inches in Paris, well off his season-best 69-8 and personal high of 72-3.

“I wasn’t doing the stuff I was doing earlier” in his career, he said. The worst part was watching himself on videotape.

“It felt like you were doing what you wanted to do and then you watched the video and you see that you’re so far away,” Godina said.

Godina started his outdoor season Saturday at the second annual Rafer Johnson-Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational at Drake Stadium. Competing in front of the home crowd, he was victorious with a throw of 67-11 3/4 to top UCLA senior Dan Ames. Ames threw 66-1 for the best collegiate mark this season.

Art Venegas, Godina’s coach, said his pupil was eager to redeem himself.

“I think he’s going to be better than ever this summer,” said Venegas, also the UCLA men’s coach. “He’s going to be fresher. We haven’t taken that indoor season off before and it’s critical that he did.”

The only thing missing in his medal case is Olympic gold. On Saturday, Godina showed he was still in the picture.

“He’s never been one to run away from a good challenge,” Venegas said. “He’s excited and ready to go.”

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Former world-record holder and defending Olympic 100-meter gold medalist Maurice Greene and 2000 silver medalist Ato Boldon ran in the 400-meter relay with Mickey Grimes and Leonard Scott. The foursome won the race in 38.90 seconds.

Sheena Gordon started the day by tying Tonya Alston with the third-highest mark in UCLA history with a leap of 6-1 1/4 in the women’s high jump.

Brenda Taylor’s winning time of 55.05 in the 400-meter hurdles was the best time in the world this season. Former UCLA standouts Michelle Perry and Jesse Strutzel had U.S.-leading marks. Perry ran 13.03 to win the 100 hurdles, while Strutzel ran 1 minute 46.80 seconds over 800 meters.

Kristin Heaston emerged from a strong women’s shotput competition with a U.S.-leading mark of 59-6 3/4. UCLA sophomore Chelsea Johnson won the pole vault after clearing 14 feet 6 inches.