Barbora Spotakova en route to throwing a world record of 72.28m in the javelin (© Getty Images)
Reigning Olympic and World champion Gerd Kanter beat former World champion Virgilijus Alekna in their first Discus Throw clash of the year while Javelin Throw World record holder Barbora Spotakova opened her post-Olympic campaign with a solid 65.96m effort at the 11th Ludvik Danek Memorial Meeting in Turnov, Czech Republic, on Tuesday (26).
Kanter reached 68.90m in the third round, producing a solid overall series: 67.18m - 68.24m - 68.90m - 68.33m - f - 66.76m. He continued his unbeaten streak, which began in Rethymno last July, extending it to 14.
“I must be satisfied because I was tired after my training in the USA recently and also after my trip to Rabat during the weekend,” Kanter said.
Alekna was second in his season opener with 67.62m with Hungarian Zoltan Kovago third with a 65.80m throw. Decathlon World record holder Roman Sebrle tested his shape before this weekend’s Hypo-Meeting – IAAF World Combined Events Challenge - in Gotzis, Austria, and finished seventh (47.09).
Studies behind her, Spotakova content with opener
Spotakova, who followed up her Beijing Olympic triumph with a World record throw of 72.28m at last year’s IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, began her season with a 65.96m throw, currently the second farthest of the season. In her series - 64.96m - f - 65.96m - f - 65.14m - 64.83m - she confirmed her very solid early shape, with the competition coming on the heels of an intense study period for her final exams at the Agricultural University where she concludes her studies on Monday. She didn’t train for a full week.
“I was one week having any training at all, just studying,” the 27-year-old said. “I did not know what to expect, so it is clearly satisfaction with this first meet. From this a longer throw could be expected.”
She did produce a longer one, an unofficial seventh throw for the crowd which was measured at 66.05m.
“I also had a new javelin from Miklos Nemeth for the first time, it was prepared especially for me and it feels very good,” she added.
Spotakova competes next on 3 June in Strasbourg, France, where she’ll take on current world leader (68.40m) Christine Obergfoll of Germany.
In other events Vitezslav Vesely won the men’s javelin with a 78.73m throw and Antonin Zalsky reached 19.85m to win the Shot Put.
Alfons Juck for the IAAF
Kanter reached 68.90m in the third round, producing a solid overall series: 67.18m - 68.24m - 68.90m - 68.33m - f - 66.76m. He continued his unbeaten streak, which began in Rethymno last July, extending it to 14.
“I must be satisfied because I was tired after my training in the USA recently and also after my trip to Rabat during the weekend,” Kanter said.
Alekna was second in his season opener with 67.62m with Hungarian Zoltan Kovago third with a 65.80m throw. Decathlon World record holder Roman Sebrle tested his shape before this weekend’s Hypo-Meeting – IAAF World Combined Events Challenge - in Gotzis, Austria, and finished seventh (47.09).
Studies behind her, Spotakova content with opener
Spotakova, who followed up her Beijing Olympic triumph with a World record throw of 72.28m at last year’s IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, began her season with a 65.96m throw, currently the second farthest of the season. In her series - 64.96m - f - 65.96m - f - 65.14m - 64.83m - she confirmed her very solid early shape, with the competition coming on the heels of an intense study period for her final exams at the Agricultural University where she concludes her studies on Monday. She didn’t train for a full week.
“I was one week having any training at all, just studying,” the 27-year-old said. “I did not know what to expect, so it is clearly satisfaction with this first meet. From this a longer throw could be expected.”
She did produce a longer one, an unofficial seventh throw for the crowd which was measured at 66.05m.
“I also had a new javelin from Miklos Nemeth for the first time, it was prepared especially for me and it feels very good,” she added.
Spotakova competes next on 3 June in Strasbourg, France, where she’ll take on current world leader (68.40m) Christine Obergfoll of Germany.
In other events Vitezslav Vesely won the men’s javelin with a 78.73m throw and Antonin Zalsky reached 19.85m to win the Shot Put.
Alfons Juck for the IAAF
