Franka Dietzsch at 38 still the best in Ulm - German Champs (© Bongarts / Getty Images)
Reigning World champion Franka Dietzsch set the early season tone in the Discus Throw to highlight the two day European Cup Winter Throwing competition which concluded today in Yalta, Ukraine.
The 39-year-old German veteran, who also took the World title in 1999 and was European gold medallist the previous year, dominated the competition with her 66.14m release in the second round. Besides Dietzsch, only one other woman threw as far last season.
Melina Robert-Michon of France was second with a 63.48 effort, well ahead of Ukraine's Nataliya Semenova, who was third with a 60.51 best.
Monteburn over Lysenko
As in Saturday's men's contest, the women's Hammer Throw produced a minor upset, with French national record holder Manuela Montebrun defeating World record holder and European champion Tatyana Lysenko of Russia. Montebrun surpassed the 72 metre mark twice, topped with her 72.65 best to win her third competition of the season in as many outings. Lysenko, who last year extended the World record in the event to 77.80, topped out at 72.05 in the second round, and reached nearly as far in the third with a 71.99 tosss.
Ester Balassini of Italy was a distant third, with a 68.70 best on the day.
Igor Sukhomlinov of Russia won the men's Javelin Throw with an opening round 83.34m effort, a personal best for the 30-year-old. Sukhomlinov, whose previous best was 80.20 from last year, was clearly the class of the field, winning by more than seven metres over Swede Magus Arvidsson, who reached 76.27. Ainars Kovals of Latvia finished third (74.64).
2004 Olympic champion Yuriy Bilonoh of Ukraine won a relatively low key Shot Put competition with a 19.95 best, edging Pavel Lyzhyn of Belarus, who reached 19.86.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
