Vadims Vasilevskis of Latvia wins the javelin (© Getty Images)
At a national meeting in Vlamiera, Latvia yesterday (23 May), 2004 Olympic silver medallist Vadims Vasilevskis of Latvia threw a world season leading 90.71m in the men’s Javelin Throw, missing his personal best by just 2cm.
This was the third time in Vasilevskis' career that he has surpassed 90 metres. The throw came in the second round, after a 81.52m opener. He fouled and passed his other four throws.
Vasilevskis was disappointing in Beijing Olympics last summer where he could only manage a ninth place showing but recaptured some of his form with a fine win 86.65m (his year’s best) at the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart at the end of the season over the three athletes who had made up the Olympic podium in China.
Yesterday in Vlamiera at the Inese Jaunzeme and Janis Lusis Cup meeting, the 27-year-old beat his compatriot Ainars Kovals, the surprise Beijing Olympic silver medallist, who on this occasion could only muster a 79.29m best.
This was Vasilevskis’ second competition of 2009, having thrown 79.91m for fourth place in Doha on 8 May.
The Latvian is one of only 12 men to have thrown the new specification spear over 90m, a feat he first accomplished with a 90.43m release in 2006. He raised the national record to 90.73m the following year. The latter throw marks him out as the tenth furthest thrower of all-time.
Chris Turner for the IAAF
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