Gerd Kanter of Estonia celebrates winning the Men's Discus Throw Final (© Getty Images)
Gerd Kanter's fifth Discus Throw victory and an upset in the women’s Hammer Throw were the key highlights at the two-day (15-16-March) European Cup Winter Throwing in Split, Croatia.
Kanter, Estonia's 2007 World champion, reahed 65.25m in the third round to nab a comfortable victory over German Robert Harting, who reached 64.34 in the second round. Kanter, who finished second at the 2005 World Championships, produced a solid series with throws of 65.00m, 65.03m, and 64.40m, all better than Harting's best effort.
Dutchman Rutger Smith finished third, reaching 63.80m in the final round.
One of the biggest surprises of the weekend came in the women's Hammer Throw with Poland's Anita Wlodarczyk's victory over reigning World champion Betty Heidler. The 22-year-old Pole threw beyond 70m for the first time, topping out at 71.84m, beating back the German whose best effort was 71.10m. Germany's Kathrin Klaas was third (69.04m).
Italy's Marco Lingua won the men’s Hammer Throw on Saturday with a 77.87m PB, improving upon his 77.66m career best from 2006. Hungary's Krisztián Pars (77.06m) was second, and Dzmitry Shako of Belarus third (76.86m).
Briton Goldie Sayers won the women’s Javelin Throw with a 63.65m throw in the fourth round, after registering three fouls. It was her longest throw since her British national record of 65.05m in 2007.
The B group produced a surprise with Slovenia's Martina Ratej, who extended the Slovenian national record to 63.16m to finish second. It was a significant improvement for the 26-year-old, whose previous best was 58.49m. She also added more than three metres to the previous record, 61.14m by Efemija Storga from 2000.
Bouncing back from her failure to reach the finals at the World Indoor Championships a week ago, European Indoor champion Assunta Legnante of Italy won the Shot Put here with an 18.98m effort, topping Russian Anna Omarova (18.38m). After an 18.11m opener, he winning toss came in the third round. Her compatriot Chiara Rossi was a distant third, reaching 18.05m.
Smith returned to the podium on day two as well after his 20.77m throw to win the Shot Put.
Portugal's Marco Fortes achieved a new Portuguese record of 20.13m and Hamza Alic from Bosnia and Hercegovina matched this impressive throw. The colour of medal was decided by each participant's second attempt, with 25-year-old Fortes taking silver and Alic settling for bronze (19.13m-18.15m).
Ilya Korotkov of Russia collected top honours in the Javelin Throw, his 81.62m effort the sole throw over 80m. Germany's Stephan Steding was second (79.55m).
Romanian Nicoleta Grasu won the women's Discus Throw with a 60.25m best, over Melina Robert-Michon of France (59.93m) and Serbia's Dragana Tomasevic (59.64m).
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
