Hoffa opens with 21.31 effort in Nordhausen

Reese Hoffa, the reigning World indoor shot put champion, began his 2007 campaign on a high note with a solid victory at the Energie-Kugelstoß-Indoor shot put meeting in Nordhausen, Germany on Friday (19).

After a modest 20.07 opening throw, The 29-year-old American reached 21.25 and 21.31 in the second and third rounds, both early season 2007 bests. His winning mark easily bested the previous meeting record of 21.14 set by Denmark's Joachim Olsen in 2005.

"I did't know where I was concerning the results possibility, so I must be satisfied with the outcome," Hoffa told the German website Leichtathletik.

At last year's World Indoor Championships in Moscow, the animated American reach 22.11m to move up to No. 4 all-time among performers.

Despite the fierce weather conditions that have pounded Germany and much of Europe for the past several days, mroe than 1300 spectators packed the venue for the meeting's 7th edition.

NB: For more on Hoffa's 2007 ambitions, see this 9-January story.

Germany's European champion Ralf Bartels was second with a 20.01 throw. Slowed by a nagging knee injury, Bartels indicated that he will most likely compete sparingly indoors this winter.

Petra Lammert, the bronze medallist at the European Championships in Gothenburg last year, won the women's event with an 18.31 effort, also an early-season world leader.

Bob Ramsak and Alfons Juck for the IAAF

Top results:
Men -
 1. Reese Hoffa, USA, 21.31 (20.07-21.25-21.31-x-20.74-x)
 2. Ralf Bartels, GER, 20.01
 3. Detlef Bock, GER 19.76

Women -
 1. Petra Lammert, GER, 18.31
 2. Nadine Beckel, GER, 17.44
 3. Helena Engmann, SWE, 17.17