German javelin thrower Johannes Vetter (© Getty Images)
Germany’s Johannes Vetter made his comeback by throwing 93.59m to win the javelin at the Kuortane Games – a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meeting – in Finland on Saturday (26).
The 2017 world champion’s last competition had been the European Athletics Team Championships Super League in Silesia, where he retired after two throws (of 94.24m and 96.29m) having experienced some discomfort in his adductor.
Back in action in Kuortane, the 28-year-old opened with 88.96m before improving to 93.59m in the second round. He then passed his third attempt and fouled on his fourth and fifth before also passing the final round.
Vetter has now thrown beyond 91 metres in six consecutive competitions this season, with his best being that 96.29m recorded in Silesia.
Trinidad and Tobago’s 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott threw 89.12m in the second round to finish runner-up ahead of India’s Commonwealth champion Neeraj Chopra who recorded a best of 86.79m, also in the second round.
Stahl sets world lead
The men’s discus was a great contest as Sweden’s world champion Daniel Stahl threw a world lead of 70.55m to beat Slovenia’s European U23 champion Kristjan Ceh by 20 centimetres.
Ceh achieved his 70.35m throw in the third round – his first ever mark beyond 70 metres to improve his national record – and had led the competition until the final round when Stahl launched his world lead. Ceh backed up his PB performance with 70.22m from his last attempt.
Sweden’s Simon Pettersson finished third with a best of 67.39m.
Joining his compatriot in success was European indoor medallist Thobias Montler as he leapt 8.13m (1.2m/s) in the final round to win the long jump, also recording 8.10m (1.6m/s) in the third round.
Australia’s world champion Kelsey-Lee Barber threw 60.05m to win the women’s javelin competition ahead of South Africa’s Jo-Ane Van Dyk with 59.31m, while Sweden’s Maja Nilsson won the high jump with a first-time clearance of 1.91m.
Finland’s Kristiina Mäkelä improved her triple jump PB to 14.41m (1.4m/s), while Wilma Murto cleared 4.61m and Mikko Paavola 5.54m to win the pole vault competitions.
Finland’s Annimari Korte won the women’s 100m hurdles final in a slightly wind-assisted 12.82 (2.1m/s) and Norway’s Line Kloster won the 400m hurdles in 56.30, while Finland’s Riku Illukka and Samuli Samuelsson clocked matching PBs of 10.27 (1.9m/s) to lead the men’s 100m final. Kenya’s Eglay Nalyanya won the women’s 800m in 2.00.56 and Norway’s Ferdinand Kvan Edman ran a PB of 3.38.36 to win the men's 1500m.
Mihambo leaps 6.92m in Leverkusen
Germany’s world long jump champion Malaika Mihambo achieved her longest leap in the world so far this year, soaring 6.92m (0.5m/s) at the #True Athletes Classics – a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meeting – in Leverkusen on Sunday (27).
Maryse Luzolo was second with a PB of 6.69m (1.1m/s), while Cuba’s world champion Yaime Perez threw 63.33m to win the women’s discus.
Three athletes cleared 5.80m in the men’s pole vault, with Olympic champion Thiago Braz and Asian champion Ernest Obiena sharing victory and Bo Kanda Lita Baehre placing third on countback.
Tatjana Pinto won the women’s 100m final in 11.18 (0.7m/s) after clocking 11.10 (2.0m/s) in the heats, while Arthur Cisse ran 10.19 (1.8m/s) to win the men’s final.
The men’s 800m saw victory for Collins Kipruto in 1:44.57, while his fellow Kenyan Edinah Jebitok won the women’s 1500m in 4:03.46.
Jess Whittington for World Athletics
