Vera Cechlova of the Czech Republic who narrowly missed out on an Olympic medal by 9cm when coming fourth in Athens made up for that disappointment in someway with a 30,000$US win in the women’s Discus in Monaco today with 65.86m - a meeting record.
In the process of her win she beat two of the women, the Olympic champion Natalya Sadova of Russia (2nd 65.57) and the Athens bronze medallist Irina Yatchenko of Belarus (3rd 64.20), who had denied her an Olympic podium spot.
Yatchenko throwing last of the eight took an early advantage in the first round with a 63.54m release, which was enough to head a bunch of 62m marks made by USA’s Aretha Hill (62.85), Cechlova (62.73), Ukrainian Olena Antonova (62.11) and Sadova (62.93).
Cechlova imposed herself on the final with her second attempt of 65.86, to which the Olympic champion responded well with 65.57, just three throws later in the same round.
Ultimately, the Czech’s second release was to win the competition but this did not spoil our enjoyment of the next round because Sadova came close again to the lead with 65.10. Hill had mean time improved to 63.43 (4th) after a foul in the second. Cechlova compiling a consistent series registered 64.23, while Yatchenko increased her best to 63.30.
The competition looked to becoming to the boil for the fourth and final round but in the end the final series was a disappointment with only New Zealand's Beatrice Faumuina (61.85, 6th), Olena Antonova (62.71, 5th) and Yatchenko improving (64.20).
The winner Cechlova also won this title last year.
CT
