Sunette Viljoen of South Africa broke her own African record in the Javelin Throw to highlight the 17th Josef Odlozil Memorial in Prague on Monday (14).
The 27-year-old reigning African champion reached 66.38m in the final round to extend her previous continental mark of 65.43m set in Belgrade last year. Viljoen's effort, which elevated her to the No. 4 spot on the 2010 season's list, also propelled her to victory over local favourite Barbora Spotáková. The World record holder led at 64.01m heading into the final round, and managed to respond with a 65.71m throw in the sixth, her second farthest of the season, but still falling a bit short.
The crowd of more than 8000 did however witness a significant victory with Petr Svoboda's narrow triumph in the 110m Hurdles. The 25-year-old clocked a national record 13.27, edging American Ryna Wilson by a scant 0.01. Svoboda, who was sixth at last year's World Championships, eclipsed his previous national record on 13.29 set in 2008.
Zahra Bouras of Algeria, previously more prolific in the 400m, may have found a new home in the 800m after her 1:59.54 run, her first entry into sub-two minute territory, Jemma Simpson of Great Britain was second in 2:00.31 and Germany's Claudia Hoffmann third (2:01.55).
Elsewhere, Ignisious Gaisah of Ghana won the Long Jump with an 8.05m leap over Dane Morten Jensen (7.96). Kenyan Collins Cheboi won the memorial 1500m race in 3:37.91 ahead of compatriot Cornelius Ndiwa (3:38.28). And Maris Urtans of Latvia won his fifth consecutive competition, winning the Shot Put with a 20.75 career best.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
The 27-year-old reigning African champion reached 66.38m in the final round to extend her previous continental mark of 65.43m set in Belgrade last year. Viljoen's effort, which elevated her to the No. 4 spot on the 2010 season's list, also propelled her to victory over local favourite Barbora Spotáková. The World record holder led at 64.01m heading into the final round, and managed to respond with a 65.71m throw in the sixth, her second farthest of the season, but still falling a bit short.
The crowd of more than 8000 did however witness a significant victory with Petr Svoboda's narrow triumph in the 110m Hurdles. The 25-year-old clocked a national record 13.27, edging American Ryna Wilson by a scant 0.01. Svoboda, who was sixth at last year's World Championships, eclipsed his previous national record on 13.29 set in 2008.
Zahra Bouras of Algeria, previously more prolific in the 400m, may have found a new home in the 800m after her 1:59.54 run, her first entry into sub-two minute territory, Jemma Simpson of Great Britain was second in 2:00.31 and Germany's Claudia Hoffmann third (2:01.55).
Elsewhere, Ignisious Gaisah of Ghana won the Long Jump with an 8.05m leap over Dane Morten Jensen (7.96). Kenyan Collins Cheboi won the memorial 1500m race in 3:37.91 ahead of compatriot Cornelius Ndiwa (3:38.28). And Maris Urtans of Latvia won his fifth consecutive competition, winning the Shot Put with a 20.75 career best.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
