Andrei Mikhnevich of Belarus during the Shot Put final (© Getty Images)
Veronika Shutkova’s world-leading 6.95m leap in the Long Jump highlighted the Cup of Belarus on Saturday (21).
The leap by the 24-year-old Minsk native, who was fifth at the European indoor championships in March, came in the first round to seal the victory and find herself atop the season’s lists for the first time in her career. It was also a career best for the 2004 World junior bronze medallist, surpassing her 6.68m outdoor best from last season and her 6.71m leap indoors earlier this year.
The nearest competitor, Nastassia Mironchyk-Ivanova, was 25 cm behind and finished second.
Shot putter Andrei Mikhnevich reached 21.30m to take the victory. Showing good early season form, he threw beyond the 21-metre line in both the third and fifth rounds. Paul Lyzhin finished second with a 20.65m toss in the second round.
Three under two minutes in women’s 800m
The women’s 800m witnessed an intense and fast battle. Maryna Arzamasova (Katovich), the daughter of former European champion Ravilya Agletdinova who died in a car accident, lead for most of the race. Sviatlana Usovich took the lead after the final turn, but was overtaken by Arzamasova who took the win in 1:59.30. Usovich was passed by her sister Ilona, on the comeback after maternity leave, to take second in 1:59.71. Sviatlana Usovichwas third in 1:59.38.
Pavel Kryvitski from Grodno produced a fine series in the Hammer Throw. He threw 78.06m in the second round, improved to 78.77m in the fifth, and ended the competition with a 79.13m effort in the sixth, a season’s best.
In the women’s Hammer Throw, Alena Matoshka from Novopolotsk was the best, reaching 72.28m in the fourth round.
In the women’s Shot, 2000 Olympic champion Yanina Karolchyk-Pravalinskay? took the win with an 18.33m best, one of three tosses beyond 18 metres.
2004 Olympic champion Yulia Nestsiarenka won the 100m in 11.30, well clear of Yuliya Balykina who clocked 11.42.
Mikhail Dubitski for the IAAF
