An absorbing fourround competition was dominated by two competitors.
Croatia’s two-time World Junior champion (2000 / 2002) Ivana Brkljacic took first blood with 71.48m to take the early lead. Having fouled her first attempt, Cuba’s Yipsi Moreno, the former two-time World champion who took the silver this summer in Osaka, countered with a 73.76m punch that was ultimately to be good enough for the win…and she exuded confidence with her 73.41m in the fourth.
Yet there was no lack of suspense or excitement for the crowd as Brkljacic increased her afternoon’s best in the second round to 71.61. When she also shouted out a 71.35m result on her third try we knew her opening three attempts had provided firm foundations for a possible big hit to follow. We weren’t let down as in the fourth and final round the Croatian’s implement flew to 73.22.
Italy’s Clarissa Claretti (70.34) and Kamila Skolimowska (70.20), were the only others over 70m.
Chris Turner for the IAAF
