A first global title for Germany’s Steffi Nerius brought 9 points to Europe thanks to a second round 63.70m release. It wasn’t even closely contested with Cuba’s Sonia Bisset securing the Americas second place (8pts) with 61.74m, and Africa taking third (7pts) thanks to Justine Robbeson’s 61.38m. No other woman threw beyond 60m today.
There will be a lot of congratulatory messages flooding in Nerius’ direction from her colleagues in the throwing community of the sport, as the 34-year-old has lost out on five major titles at the global level in her career. She was even pipped last weekend at the World Athletics Tour season finale on home soil in Stuttgart, when she was the outright favourite to win the World Athletics Final.
Nerius took fourth at the World Cup four years ago, and she backed up her winning effort today with 62.80m in the third round of this four throw competition.
Congratulations Steffi!
Chris Turner
