Reigning world champion Daniel Ståhl from Sweden was in victorious form in the discus at the Internationales Pfingstsportfest Rehlingen, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting, on Sunday (24).
Ståhl only produced one valid throw in his series but fortunately for him, his only measured effort landed at a meeting record of 69.01m.
His mark from the second round came under some pressure from Germany’s Henrik Janssen who threw 68.54m in the fourth round with reigning European U23 champion Steven Richter finishing third with 65.91m.
The women’s long jump reached an exciting denouement with reigning European champion Malaika Mihambo leaping out to 6.82m in the last round to displace Jamaica’s Ackelia Smith by one centimetre as well as regain her meeting record.
Smith still had one jump remaining and she responded gamely but ultimately fell just short of Mihambo with a sixth-round effort of 6.76m, her second longest jump of the competition.
There was also late drama in the women's discus with Marike Steinacker throwing 62.63m on her final attempt to move from third to first ahead of German teammate Leia Braunagel (62.05m) with multiple world and European U20 champion Alexandra Emilianov from Moldova third (60.08m).
Other field event highlights included 2022 European silver medallist Marija Vukovic from Montenegro clearing 1.94m in the high jump and Sweden’s Fanny Roos taking a notable win over reigning Olympic champion Yemisi Mabry in the shot put - 19.45m to 18.81m.
Nordas leads Norwegian 1-2 in the 1500m
Former world bronze medallist Narve Gilje Nordas produced one of the highlights of the track action, making a long and confident run for home from victory in the men’s 1500m in 3:32.52.
Nordas led a Norwegian 1-2 with reigning European U20 1500m and 3000m champion Hakon Moe Berg overhauled Brit Elliot Giles in the home straight for second - 3:33.41 to 3:33.42.
By contrast, the women’s 1500m was a slow and tactical affair after the pack eschewed the pacemaker in the early stages. Brit Sarah Calvert unleashed a final 300 metres of 44.69 to take a surprise victory in 4:12.01 from Ethiopian teenager Samrawit Mulugeta (4:12.52) with pre-race favorite and fellow Brit Jemma Reekie third (4:12.72).
In a near repeat of the European Athletics U23 Championships in Bergen last July, European U23 champion Owe Fischer-Breiholz won the 400m hurdles in 48.36, fighting off bronze medallist Ian Matic Gucek in second in 48.40.
Eileen Demes provided the first part of a German double in the 400m hurdles, winning in a meeting record of 55.07.
Photos courtesy of James Rhodes