Reigning European discus champion Mykolas Alekna defeated all of his main rivals and surpassed the 70 metre-line again in the Marrakech Diamond League on Sunday (19) evening.
In his first competition since breaking the world record with 74.35m, Alekna threw 70.70m in the fourth round for a handy victory over Australia’s Matt Denny (67.74m) and reigning Olympic and world champion Daniel Stahl (67.49m).
Alekna is confirmed for Oslo (30 May) and Stockholm (2 June) in upcoming weeks ahead of the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships from 7-12 June when he will seek to defend his continental title.
Serbia’s Angelina Topic will be eyeing an improvement on her bronze medal in the high jump from Munich 2022 in the Italian capital next month and the 18-year-old - who was crowned women’s Rising Star at the Golden Tracks award ceremony last October - improved her national record to 1.98m for victory before three solid attempts at 2.00m.
@ Noelle Mobuchon
“The conditions tonight were not ideal for high jump, cold and windy so being able to jump so high in this kind of weather makes me even more happy. Next, I will jump at the Balkans Championships then at the European Championships in Roma,” said Topic.
Doom approaches Belgian 400m record
Alexander Doom converted his indoor form to the outdoor stage with an impressive individual season’s debut in the 400m.
The double world indoor champion forged to victory in a substantial lifetime best of 44.51 - just 0.08 shy of Jonathan Borlee’s national 400m record - ahead of Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga (44.54) and Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori (44.59).
“I'm super happy that I won this race. I was not expecting to win it and achieve my personal best. This is my first race this season as I just came back from injury.
“Now I will prepare for my next race in Ostrava and the European Championship in Rome before participating in the Olympics,” said Doom.
@ Noelle Mobuchon
There were also European victories for Switzerland’s Angelica Moser who cleared 4.73m in the pole vault ahead of Italians Roberta Bruni (4.65m) and Elisa Molinarolo (4.55m) while France’s Azeddine Habz broke clear of the field in the men’s 1500m and held on for victory in 3:32.86 ahead of Britons George Mills (3:33.47) and Elliot Giles (3:33.50).