After her World Championship bronze in 2007, Yarelis Barrios, 25, took the Olympic silver in Beijing this summer losing to the surprising American Stephanie Brown-Trafton. This young, particularly by top discus throwing standards, Cuban represents to many the future of this event.
Today’s competition was of the same if not slightly higher standard than the final in Beijing. Brown-Trafton, 29, had won in China with a first round release of 64.74m. Throwing fourth of the eight competitors in Stuttgart, she produced a solid 62.23m with her opener but we guessed this was never going to hold onto the win. Four throws later and our thoughts were confirmed as Barrios glided her implement three centimetres further.
While for three throws in the second round Barrios did momentarily lose the lead to Romania’s Nicoleta Grasu, who powered her discus out to 62.48, the Cuban ended the round in pole position thanks to a 64.68 effort. She improved to 64.88 in the third and closed out the four round competition with 63.05. It was a dominant display.
Brown-Trafton had to settle for third based on her first round throw, though she did try to challenge Grasu, the American having 60.89 and 60.60 efforts in the second and third series of throws, before a foul in the last round.
Chris Turner for the IAAF
Today’s competition was of the same if not slightly higher standard than the final in Beijing. Brown-Trafton, 29, had won in China with a first round release of 64.74m. Throwing fourth of the eight competitors in Stuttgart, she produced a solid 62.23m with her opener but we guessed this was never going to hold onto the win. Four throws later and our thoughts were confirmed as Barrios glided her implement three centimetres further.
While for three throws in the second round Barrios did momentarily lose the lead to Romania’s Nicoleta Grasu, who powered her discus out to 62.48, the Cuban ended the round in pole position thanks to a 64.68 effort. She improved to 64.88 in the third and closed out the four round competition with 63.05. It was a dominant display.
Brown-Trafton had to settle for third based on her first round throw, though she did try to challenge Grasu, the American having 60.89 and 60.60 efforts in the second and third series of throws, before a foul in the last round.
Chris Turner for the IAAF
