Irina Yatchenko of Belarus wins the women's discus throw (© Getty Images)
The University Games of Belarus which were held in the Staiki Sport Centre from 17 to 19 May provided a good chance to the nation’s top athletes to compete in the open events. The best results came in the throwing events, the country’s most competitive disciplines.
Darya Pchelnik of Grodno scored her third consecutive victory in the women’s Hammer Throw which she took with a 70.04m effort. The new University Games champion defeated last year’s national leader Oksana Menkova into second (69.20m) with Alena Matoshka taking third at 68.78m.
In the men’s Hammer Throw World silver medallist Vadim Devyatovskiy came out on top with a best attempt of 78.21m.
“The circle was slippery after the rain,” said Devyatovskiy. “Therefore it was difficult to stay on my legs. In one of the attempts the hammer flew to about 81.5 metres but landed just outside the sector. However, I am glad that such throw took place and my physical form is rising.”
Andrey Vorontsov was second with 76.32m while Yury Shayunou, still a junior came third with 73.09m.
Irina Yatchenko, twice Olympic bronze medallist bettered her best of the season by one and a half metre. In her fourth attempt, she threw the disk beyond the 61m line. (61.14m).
As Yatchenko was entered as an open competitor the Games title went to young Hanna Mazgunova, former Brel, the 2007 European Cup Winter Throwing bronze medallist. Her best effort was measured at 59.60m.
European Indoor silver medallist, Pavel Lyzhyn took the Shot Put title. He sent the put beyond 19m four times with a best effort measured at 19.46m. His colleague from Mogilyov Jury Belov scored the same result, but had a worse second best effort and had to be content with silver.
Lyzhyn also took gold in the discus with 61.72m.
In the women’s Shot Put Yuliya Leantsiuk won with 18.16m. The women’s 400m Hurdles went to Yulyana Yushchanka (51.71) while 22-year-old Mikalai Shubianok established a personal best 8028 points to win the men’s Decathlon. In the Heptathlon Natalia Tanana was crowned the new champion with 5436 points.
Mikhail Dubitski for the IAAF
Selected results
Men
Triple Jump
1 Dzmitry Platnitski 16.29
2 Andrey Jakovchik 16.20
Shot Put
1 Pavel Lyzhyn 19.46
2 Jury Belov 19.46
3 Andrey Sinjakov 19.42
Discus Throw
Pavel Lyzhyn 61.72
Hammer Throw
1 Vadim Devyatovskiy 78.21
2 Andrey Vorontsov 76.32
3 Yury Shayunou 73.09
Javelin Throw
Vadzim Yautukhovich 75.64
Decathlon
Mikalai Shubianok 8028
Women
400m
Yulyana Yushchanka 51.71
Shot Put
Yuliya Leantsiuk 18.16
Discus Throw
1 Irina Yatchenko 61.14
2 Hanna Mazgunova 59.60
Hammer Throw
1 Darya Pchelnik 70.04
2 Oksana Menkova 69.20
3 Alena Matoshka 68.78
Javelin Throw
1 Maryna Novik 55.86
2 Galina Kahova 55.53
Heptathlon
Natalia Tanana 5436
