Mariya Abakumova launches her spear in Rome (© Giancarlo Colombo)
Mariya Abakumova, Olympic silver and World bronze medallist reasserted her Osaka ambitions at the 16th Mednarodni Atletski Miting (16th Miners Day meeting) in Velenje, Slovenia, on Tuesday (28) with a fifth round 67.98m.
The Russian’s winning effort was a massive improvement on German Christina Obergföll’s 66.22m world lead set a week before in Stockholm. Germany’s European champion Linda Stahl was second behind Abakumova with 60.78m. Kim Mickle of Australia was third with 60.59m.
There was delight for the home fans when Slovenia’s 32-year-old Marija Sestak produced 14.11m (+0.1m/s) in the women’s Triple Jump, her best wind legal result since 2009. She had jumped a windy 14.14 in Celje on 11 June, and so her Velenje result will be further encouragement after years beset by injury. Slovakia’s Dana Veldakova was second (14.08).
Slovenia's World and Olympic Hammer Throw champion Primoz Kozmus, who is making a comeback after a very short retirement produced 75.61m but it was only good enough for third place in a low key competition won by Krisztian Pars (76.87m). Markus Esser of Germany split the two with 76.01m.
Of more international note in the women’s Pole Vault Russian European champion Svetlana Feofanova cleared 4.70m, while in the men’s 3000m Steeplechase Kenyan junior Jairus Kipchoge clocked 8:16.74.
The High Jump was won by World Champion Yaroslav Rybakov of Russia (2.26m)
Chris Turner for the IAAF
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