Tatyana Lysenko in action in Gothenburg (© Getty Images)
Hammer World record holder Tatyana Lysenko from Russia fulfilled the expectations of the organisers of 4th Athletics Bridge (EAA Meetings) in Central Slovakia yesterday (27).
Lysenko achieved a new meet record and the best ever mark on Slovak territory. She started with 72.72m and achieved the best result of 75.07m with her second throw, then passed the third one and concentrated on the fourth which measured 73.33m.
“I did not feel well enough to be able to attack the World record,“ she explained.
Still her result was the best of the meet and also showed that hammer when organised in the main stadium (with four attempts) in a good atmosphere and with music support can be a very attractive event.
Former World record holder* Gulfiya Khanafeyeva from Russia beat Cuban Yipsi Moreno for second only with her last throw which was worth 72.95m. Five throwers achieved 70 m+ marks.
The male hammer throwers were fighting for IAAF World Athletics Tour points and at the end of the competition the current World and European champion Ivan Tikhon from Belarus was left smiling. Tikhon won the competition with his and overall last throw of 78.97m.
In good shape was Hungarian Krisztian Pars, second with 77.73m, which beat the other two European medallists Karjalainen (3rd) and Deviatovskiy (5th). All throwers are hoping for even better results on Tuesday in the second leg of the event in Dubnica.
Shot Put world leader Christian Cantwell of the USA also made the local crowd of 2000 spectators happy with his last release of 21.19m which was a new meet record and 4th best ever result in Slovakia.
“I wanted more, but in the next meet I hope for that,“ said Cantwell.
New meet records were achieved also in three jumping events. Randy Lewis from Grenada surprisingly won the Triple Jump with 17.31m and missed his national record only by 3 centimetres. European bronze winner Marian Oprea from Romania tried hard in his last attempt which was 17.26 but he took off well before the board, so in reality his jump was worth nearly 17.50 mark.
“It’s a pity with the last jump, but I think in Dubnica I will manage to win,“ explained Oprea.
Russian World Indoor High Jump silver medallist Andrey Tereshin showed great late season shape. Without touching the bar he went over another meet record 2.31m. But then he did not jump anymore. “I want to save something for Dubnica on Tuesday,“ he said.
The women‘s Pole Vault saw a clear winner in German Nastja Ryshich who was in excellent shape. She went over 4.15, 4.30, 4.40 and 4.45 on the first attempts. Her result is the second best ever in Slovakia and of course a meet record.
Great results were achieved in hurdles sprints bearing in mind that at the end of the meet in the evening the weather was already cold and nearly windless. Danielle Carruthers from USA produced a meet record of 12.89. In the men’s sprint hurdles the times from two races were combined to find an overall best. In the first race, Aubrey Herring nearly achieved his best ever and with a 13.32 (meet record) missing his PB by only by 0.01. In second race, David Oliver achieved an even smoother run in 13.35.
New meet records were achieved in both 200m sprints. Roxana Diaz from Cuba won with 23.18, with the grand dame Merlene Ottey in fourth achieving a new masters' world best in the category 45+, with 23.82.
US Champs bronze medallist Rod Martin won the men's section in another meet record 20.53, and was able to beat the fast finishing Darvis Patton by 0.06 s.
In other jackpot events Mitch Potter from USA (400m), Johan Cronje (South Africa, 800m) and Andrey Farnosov (Russia, Steeplechase, new meet record 8:33.41) were the winners. The only local winner was Marian Bokor in Javelin Throw with the jackpot chance.
All athletes moved on Monday morning to Dubnica and will fight for the jackpot of 14.000 E, which will be shared by athletes who win their events twice. In total out of 14 jackpot events in 10 new meet records were achieved (not having meet records were only men 400, 800, JT and HT).
By an IAAF Correspondent
Full results at www.saz.sk (follow them live also on Tuesday from Dubnica).
* a mark pending ratification
