Women's Shot Put Final

18yearold Geisa Arcanjo made sure the women’s Shot Put junior gold medal remained in South America as the Brazilian champion succeeded previous winner Natalia Duco of Chile.

Arcanjo was the quickest and farthest qualifier this morning at 16.63m but she shared favourite spot with China’s Qianqian Meng, the season’s World leader at 17.42, going into the final.

But tonight there would be no denying the solid Brazilian thrower who showed no sign of disconcert after her huge opening effort was given the red flag. Arcanjo’s winning 17.02 came in the third round and would remain the only mark beyond the 17 metres this evening.

Meng was unable to match her early April form despite opening with 16.94, a mark no one else in the field had ever attained expect for Arcanjo herself. In fact, it would remain her best effort and good enough for the silver medal.

Bronze went to the second Chinese woman in the field, Shuang Cui whose 16.13m was still a long way from the leader’s performances.

Russia’s Evgeniya Smirnova, whose personal best 16.77 was the third best of the field, had a poor series and was lying way behind in eighth position for most of the competition until she finally unleashed a decent effort with her last throw. Still it wouldn’t be enough to step onto the podium as her 15.75 catapulted her into fourth.

In fifth Margaret Satupai set a new Samoan Junior record 15.62 to become her country’s first finalist and best placer ever at a World Junior Championships.

Arcanjo is now the first Brazilian junior woman to ever win a gold medal and the first Brazilian since 1994 although her winning effort remains the shortest in the history of the competition.

Laura Arcoleo for the IAAF