Lysenko again! - 77.80 World record * in Tallinn

Tatyana Lysenko of Russia extended her own World record * in the Hammer Throw, reaching 77.80 at the Tallinn 2006 meeting today.

The 22-year-old, who just seven days ago won the European title in Gothenburg, Sweden, improved the previous record of 77.41 she set at the Znamenskiy Memorial in Zhukovskiy, Russia, on 24 June. It was the third World record for Lysenko, last year's bronze medallist from the World Championships in Helsinki. Competing in pleasant conditions, Lysenko surpassed her previous standard in the fifth round, and also produced two other throws beyond 76 metres.

Second was another Russian, Yekaterina Khorosikh, who did not qualify for the final in Gothenburg, with a 73.46 effort. Third and fourth went to other European Championships  medallists but in reverse order. Third was Kamila Skolimowska from Poland and fourth Gulfiya Khanafeyeva, also from Russia.

Alekna saves win streak with last round effort

Later during the event at the Kadriorg Stadium in the Estonian Capitol the freshly-minted European champion in the Discus Throw Virgilijus Alekna from Lithuania continued his winning ways. But it wasn’t that easy. The silver medallist from Gotenburg, Estonian Gerd Kanter, began the competition well with a second round throw of 67.86m. In the fifth round Alekna equalled that mark, but was behind with based on his second best throw (67.31 to 67.49). He pulled through with his last effort, a major improvement to 69.30m, to extend his win streak to 19 finals, dating back to last year’s Tallinn meeting on 16 August when he lost to South African Frantz Kruger.

21.75 for Cantwell

World leader Christian Cantwell from USA also confirmed his excellent shat after returning to Europe after a brief break. His fifth and sixth throws of 21.40 and 21.75 were enough for a clear win. European silver medallist Andrey Mikhnevich, who lost the gold in last round to German Ralf Bartels in Gothenburg, was second with a respectable 21.10.

Australian sprinter Patrick Johnson (10.37) and Jamaican Ricardo Williams (20.60) exchanged top positions in both sprints. On the women’s side a sprint double was achieved by Tashia Harrigan from British Virgin Islands (11.30/23.40). Olympic champion Joanna Hayes (12.96) from USA won a narrow battle in the 100m Hurdles over Reina-Flor Okori of France and former World champion Perdita Felicien from Canada. Top three were separated only by 0.03 s.

The sensation of the event was the 20-year-old local versatile talent Ksenija Balta. The national record holder in the sprints (11.47 and 23.05 this year) she also has a Heptathlon best of 6180. Competing in the Long Jump, she improved her personal best from 6.56 to 6.80, bettering Anna Kaljurand 6.64 national record from 1986. Here, she also the former European Champion Tatyana Kotova from Russia who reached 6.72.

Top results:

MEN -
100m (+0.7)
 1. Patrick JOHNSON, AUS, 10,37  
 2. Ricardo WILLIAMS, JAM, 10,39  
 3. Steve MULLINGS, JAM, 10,40  

200m (+0.5)
 1. Ricardo WILLIAMS, JAM, 20,60  
 2. Patrick JOHNSON, AUS, 20,70  
 3. Steve MULLINGS, JAM, 20,74  

400m
 1. Brandon SIMPSON, JAM, 45,37  
 2. Jamel ASHLEY, USA, 46,24  
 3. Ato MODIBO, TRI, 46,64  

1500m
 1. Mark FOUNTAIN, AUS, 3.40,36  
 2. Miroslaw FORMELA, POL, 3.40,61  
 3. Adrian BLINOCOE, NZL, 3.40,62   

110 m Hurdles (-0.3)
 1. Aubrey HERRING, USA, 13,61  
 2. Sergei DEMIDYUK, UKR, 13,69  
 3. Daniel KISS, HUN, 13,94  

Triple Jump
 1. Dmitri VALYUKEVICH, SVK, 16,82 +0.5             
 2. Julien KAPEK, FRA, 16,76 0.0             
 3. Alexander PETRENKO, RUS, 16,57 +0.1             

Shot Put
 1. Christian CANTWELL, USA, 21,75         
       20,31 - 20,91 - 20,96 - X - 21,40 - 21,75)
 2. Andrei MIKHNEVICH, BLR, 21,10         
       21,10 - X - 20,41 - 20,77 - X - X)
 3. Ville TIISANOJA, FIN, 20,40         
 
Discus Throw       
 1. Virgilijus ALEKNA, LIT, 69,30         
 (X - 67,21 - 67,31 - X - 67,86 - 69,30)
 2. Gerd KANTER, EST, 67,86)
 (66,60 - 67,86 - 67,49 - 65,28 - 65,98 - X)
 3. Piotr MALACHOWSKI, POL, 65,57)
 (62,51 - 64,50 - 64,33 - 65,25 - 65,57 - 65,09)
 4. Aleksander TAMMERT, EST, 64,99)
 (62,28 - 64,99 - 64,94 - 63,31 - 64,12 - X)

Javelin Throw                
 1. Eriks RAGS, LAT, 81,80         
 2. Ainars KOVALS, LAT, 79,98         
 3. Marian BOKOR, SVK, 79,34         

WOMEN –
100m (-0,5)
 1. Tahesia HARRIGAN, BVI, 11,30  
 2. Emma ANIA, GBR, 11,61  
 3. Ksenia BALTA, EST, 11,63  

200m  (-0.1)
 1. Tahesia HARRIGAN, BVI, 23,40  
 2. Emma ANIA, GBR, 23,43  
 3. Olessia ZYKINA, RUS, 23,45  
 
400m
 1. Moushaumi ROBINSON, USA, 51,60  
 2. Natalia NAZAROVA, RUS, 51,73  
 3. Olessia ZYKINA, RUS, 52,18  

800m
 1. Svetlana CHERKASOVA, RUS, 2.02,47  
 2. Diane CUMMINS, CAN, 2.03,57  
 3. Suvi MYLLYMÄKI, FIN, 2.03,65  

100m Hurdles (+0.5)
 1. Joanna HAYES, USA, 12,96  
 2. Reina-Flor OKORI, FRA, 12,99  
 3. Perdita FELICIEN, CAN, 12,99  
 
Long Jump                
 1. Ksenia BALTA, EST, 6,80 +0.3             
 2. Tatyana KOTOVA, RUS, 6,72 +0.3             
 3. Malgorzata TRYBANSKA, POL, 6,71 +0.3             

Discus Throw
 1. Joanna WISNIEWSKA, POL, 60,29         
 2. Wioletta POTEPA, POL, 60,08         
 3. Aretha THURMOND, USA, 59,76         

Hammer Throw
 1.Tatyana Lysenko, RUS, 77.80 WR *
 (x - 74.09 - 76.71 - 76.39 - 77.80 - x)
 2. Yekaterina Khorosikh, RUS, 73.46
 3. Kamila Skolimowska, POL, 71.94
 4. Gulfiya Khanafeyeva, RUS, 71.74
 5. Clarissa Claretti, ITA, 66.96
 6. Kathrin Klaas, GER, 66.86

Alfons Juck with Marko Turban and Aivar Karotamm for the IAAF

 * pending the usual ratification process