Menkova throws 75.28m in Minsk

In a strong domestic competition, Olympic Hammer Throw champion Aksana Menkova took top honours at the Mikhail Zhelobovski Trophy in Minsk to reemerge as a strong medal contender for the world title in Berlin.

In the first round Menkova had already improved her season’s best to 73.07m. Darya Pchelnik, the current leader in Belarus, responded with a 72.65m throw, and then improved to 72.96. But Menkova wasn’t finished and improved again to 75.28m.

Pchelnik tried to revise the order but could only mustre a 73.98m throw, her farthest of the season. The previous national record holder, Volha Tsander, was never in the hunt, and finished third with a 65.98m best.

In the men’s competition Dzmitry Shako from Novopolotsk led until the last round (his best effort of 77.35m was a season’s best) when Pavel Kryvitski reached 78.82m to snatch the victory. Andrei Varantsou threw 75.04m in the fourth round to beat Turk Fatih Eryildirim (72.67m) for third.

In the women’s Discus Throw, 2003 World champion and twice Olympic bronze medalist Iryna Yatchenko threw 62.60m with her second attempt for the win. In men’s competition, Ahmed Mohamed Dheeb of Qatar won the second tournament in Minsk, throwing 60.90m. Belorussians Dzmitry Sivakou (58.70m) Ruslan Khlybau (56.08m) were second and third.

Mikhail Dubitski for the IAAF

Leading Results -

MEN -
Hammer Throw:
 1. Pavel Kryvitski 78.82
 2. Dmitry Shako 77.35
 3. Andrei Varantsou 75.04

Discus Throw:
 1. Ahmed Mohamed Dheeb (QAT) 60.90
 2. Dzmitry Sivakou 58.70
 3. Ruslan Khlybau 56.08

5000m Walk:
 1. Andrei Talashka 20:32.13
 2. Vitali Talankou 20:32.15

WOMEN -
Hammer Throw:
 1. Oksana Menkova 75.28
 2. Darya Pchelnik 73.98
 3. Volha Tsander 65.98

Discus Throw:
 1. Iryna Yatchenko 62.60

5000m Walk:
 1. Zhanna Halaunia 22:51.29