Christian Cantwell spins to a world-leading 21.32m toss in Nordhausen (© W. Hasselbach)
Competing before a crowd of more than 2000, Christian Cantwell of the USA and Germany’s Nadine Kleinert reached early season world-leading performances at the 10th International Energie – Shotput – Indoor of Nordhausen on Friday (22).
The Men’s competition was a real thriller. Cantwell, the reigning World champion indoors and outdoors, reached 21.32m in the sixth round to take his third consecutive victory here.
The duel between the Berlin World championships bronze medallist, Ralf Bartels, and Sindelfingern native Marco Schmidt for the runner-up honours was also hard fought. After Schmidt set a new personal best with 20,58m on his last attempt, the German champion Bartels fought back with 20.76m to take the victory and secure his ticket to the World Indoor Championships in Dohain March.
The world’s finest shot putter of the last decade, American Adam Nelson couldn’t quite match his previous form, and settled for fourth with a 20.23m best. Germany’s rising star, David Storl, finished fifth with a 20.02m effort. All experts who were present at the competition in Nordhausen, including former Olympic champion Udo Beyer, agreed that Storl, the 2007 World youth and 2008 World junior champion, will be the man of the future.
Kleinert, the World silver medallist from last summer, dominated the women’s competition and improved the world season’s best with a 19.16m toss. The 200p winner, Denise Hinrichs, reached 17.86m to take second. Third went to Melissa Boekelman of the Netherlands with 17.00m.
Raik Bischof (organisers) for the IAAF
The Men’s competition was a real thriller. Cantwell, the reigning World champion indoors and outdoors, reached 21.32m in the sixth round to take his third consecutive victory here.
The duel between the Berlin World championships bronze medallist, Ralf Bartels, and Sindelfingern native Marco Schmidt for the runner-up honours was also hard fought. After Schmidt set a new personal best with 20,58m on his last attempt, the German champion Bartels fought back with 20.76m to take the victory and secure his ticket to the World Indoor Championships in Dohain March.
The world’s finest shot putter of the last decade, American Adam Nelson couldn’t quite match his previous form, and settled for fourth with a 20.23m best. Germany’s rising star, David Storl, finished fifth with a 20.02m effort. All experts who were present at the competition in Nordhausen, including former Olympic champion Udo Beyer, agreed that Storl, the 2007 World youth and 2008 World junior champion, will be the man of the future.
Kleinert, the World silver medallist from last summer, dominated the women’s competition and improved the world season’s best with a 19.16m toss. The 200p winner, Denise Hinrichs, reached 17.86m to take second. Third went to Melissa Boekelman of the Netherlands with 17.00m.
Raik Bischof (organisers) for the IAAF
