UPDATE: Kovacs wins silver medal at Paris Olympics
PARIS - Joe Kovacs is in position for another Olympic medal.
Kovacs, the Nazareth-area native and graduate of Bethlehem Catholic High School, advanced to Saturday’s final of the shot put competition at the Paris Olympics.
He finished at No. 7 of the 12 qualifiers who advanced Friday, with a throw of 21.24 meters. That was third of the three Americans who advanced.
The 35-year-old Penn State alum is competing in his third Olympic Games.
He’s already a two-time Olympic silver medalist and two-time world champion who has been ranked No. 2 in the world in the shot put.
He finished second in the shot put competition in June at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.
That second-place finish was behind Ryan Crouser, the University of Texas grad who also is competing on his third Olympic team and is a two-time gold medalist.
Crouser on Friday advanced to the finals also, taking the No. 4 spot with a throw of 21.49 meters.
The top qualifier was Italy's Leonardo Fabbri. American Payton Otterdahl came in third with a throw of 21.52 meters.
The men’s shot put final will be held starting at 1:35 p.m EDT Saturday.
