Anita Wlodarczyk after breaking the hammer world record in Warsaw (© Organisers)
World and Olympic champion Anita Wlodarczyk broke her own world record* with a throw of 82.98m at the Skolimowska Memorial in Warsaw on Sunday (28).
Each one of the Pole's five valid throws were beyond the previous meeting record. She opened with 79.68m and improved with her following three efforts, throwing 80.31m, 81.77m and then a world record of 82.98m.
She followed her record mark with a throw of 81.27m before ending her series with a foul. It was the first time in which the 31-year-old had landed three throws beyond 81 metres in the same series.
Wlodarczyk set the previous world record of 82.29m when winning the Olympic title in Rio. Including ancillary marks, Wlodarczyk now owns the top 20 throws in history, 11 of which are beyond 80 metres.
Britain's Olympic bronze medallist Sophie Hitchon was more than 10 metres in arrears of Wlodarczyk, throwing 72.42m to take second place.
"I was saying that I want to improve the record and I was able to keep my word," said Wlodarczyk.
"Maybe I could have broken it in the first round but I like to improve step by step and play with the emotions. Yes, it was close to 83 meters, but let's save something for the next season."
Wlodarczyk dedicated the victory to the late Kamila Skolimowska, the 2000 Olympic champion, who was a close friend before she passed away unexpectedly in 2009.
Poland's world hammer champion Pawel Fajdek rebounded from the disappointment of missing out on the Olympic final. The 27-year-old dominated the men's contest and won with a world-leading 82.47m.
All six of his throws were beyond 78 metres and any one of them would have been enough to win ahead of world and Olympic bronze medallist Wojciech Nowicki, who threw 76.58m.
The meeting also marked the final competitive outing on home soil for two-time Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski.
Competing just two days before his 35th birthday, Majewski looked to be heading for a dream end to his long career, taking the lead in the second round with a season's best of 21.08m, his best outdoor throw for four years.
In the final round, though, world indoor champion Tom Walsh sent his shot out to 21.48m to snatch the victory.
Elsewhere in Warsaw, Olympic silver medallist Mutaz Essa Barshim won the high jump with a first-time clearance at 2.35m.
Jon Mulkeen for the IAAF
*Subject to the usual ratification procedures
