Nedzad Mulabegovic en route to his shot put victory at the Croatian Championships (© www.akkvarner.hr)
The Croatian national championships on Friday (1) and Saturday (2) was dominated by Olympians who made a good sendoff competition prior to the upcoming Games in Beijing.
The best result of this two-day event, held in Croatia’s Adriatic port town Rijeka, came from the national Hammer Throw record holder Andras Haklits. With 78.58m he improved his season’s best by more than two metres and showed good shape ahead of the big showdown in Beijing. It was the 30-year-old's best throw since he set the national record of 80.41m in 2005.
In a solo race from the gun Vanja Perišic was the fastest over the two lap race at Kantrida Stadium (home of the football team NK Rijeka) in 2:02.97. The 23-year-old has a career best of 2:00.20 from 2006 and earlier this summer ran 2:00.21 in Velenje, Slovenia.
On a sunny afternoon on Friday, the home favourite discus thrower Vera Begic achieved the second best result in her career with 60.57m. It was only 16 centimetres short of her own national record from 2006. Home team AK Kvarner Autotrans welcomed its second Olympian Nedžad Mulabegovic’s victory in Shot Put who threw 19.50m.
Martin Maric came home with two victories. In his main event the Discus Throw, he threw 60.06m in rainy conditions on Saturday. The day before he won the javelin competition with a 70.84m effort.
A few of Croatia’s Bejing-bound squad competed in events other than their main ones. High-hurdler Jurica Grabušic won the 100m in 10.51 and brought victory to his team 4x100m Relay. AK Mladost won by 0.06 over home runners from AK Kvarner Autotrans. Nikolina Horvat (400m Hurdles) won at 200m (24.45, PB) and 400m (54.99).
Elsewhere, Matija Cop improved to fifth place in the 200m on Croatia’s all time list with his 21.29 victory.
Vlasic in midst of final training stint, Brkljacic pulls out as a precaution
Croatia’s leading medal hopes in Beijing didn’t compete. World High Jump champion Blanka Vlašic is having a training camp in her home town Split. National Hammer Throw record holder Ivana Brkljacic showed up in Rijeka but didn’t compete as a precaution because of a slight injury of her left shoulder. However, she should go to China and compete at the Olympics.
Meanwhile, Danijela Grgic, the 2006 World junior champion in the 400m, is on the mend from a stress fracture, and has been sidelined all season.
Hrvoje Sliškovic (Jutarnji list) for IAAF
Click here for complete results
- 1st day
- 2nd day
