Minsk, Belarus - Andrei Mikhnevich improved his personal best in the Shot Put to 22.09m to highlight the Memorial meeting for Belarusian athletes at the Dynamo Stadium in Minsk on Wednesday (14).

Mikhnevich, the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist, equalled the national record in the second round with the second 22-metre effort of his career. Three of his tosses landed beyond 21.50: 21.85, 21.68 and 21.82. His effort equalled the mark set by Sergey Kasnauskas more than 25 years ago.

“Of course I am happy that I’ve repeated the national record again,” the winner said. “It is a pity, a little bit, that hasn’t break it, but the season has not ended yet.”

In the women’s Hammer Throw there was no competition for former national record holder Volha Tsander from Grodno. Her first three attempts sailed beyond 70 metres, the third the farthest at 71.66m. Maryia Smaliachkova from Minsk was more than 2.5 m behind and took second with a 69.02m best.

"In past years I threw far enough at home stadiums,” Tsander said, “and at international meets the results were not so good. Now I want to change the tactics and add two to three metres to my result at the European championship to get to the final four. I hope, that in due course I will return to my far throwings and will break my personal best (76.66m).”

Valeriy Sviatokha won the men’s hammer Throw with 77.26m.

Mikhail Dubitski for the IAAF

Select results -
Men:

Shot Put
1 Andrei Mikhnevich 22.09

Discus Throw
1 Dzmitry Sivakou 61.46
2 Ruslan Khlybau 58.87

Hammer Throw
1 Valeriy Sviatokha 77.26

Javelin Throw
1 Vladimir Kozlov 81.86

Women:
1500m
1 Natallia kareiva 4:06.52
2 Aina Valatkeviciuté 2:07.23.

Hammer Throw
1 Volha Tsander 71.66
2 Maryia Smaliachkova 69.02