Vadim Devyatovskiy of Belarus celebrates after a throw during the Men's Hammer Throw Final (© Getty Images)
Minsk, BelarusThe Mikhail Zhelobovski Trophy, named in memory of one of the most eminent Belarus 1500m and 3000m runners took place in the “Staiki” sport centre on Saturday (19).
The trophy, as always, was marked by world class results in both Hammer Throw competitions courtesy of Vadim Devyatovskiy who won the men’s event with 81.70m and Volha Tsander, winner in the women’s with 74.75m.
Strong rain and a wet sector prevented athletes from revealing their full power, but the leaders still proved their strength. For some it was the last chance to qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games.
Devyatovskiy had no contenders: in the first attempt he threw 81.70m, and in the third he almost repeated the result at 81.30. Pavel Kryvitski of Grodno threw 80.02 in the third round and established a personal record. He took the second place, having outstripped Andrei Varantsou who had the best first round effort at 78.18.
The women’s competition proved a closer battle with the winner only decided at the last round. At the beginning the leadership was taken by Alena Matoshka of Novopolotsk. She opened with a new personal best of 73.83 which she backed up with a second round 73.06.
Maryia Smaliachkova of Minsk answered with 72.80, Volha Tsander was third at 70.88. In the third series Tsander came close with 73.44 and Smaliachkova answered with 73.69, and then took the lead at 74.65.
However business hadn’t ended with this, Tsander in the fifth attempt took the first place from Smaliachkova, having moved the tag another 10cm further.
In the men’s javelin, Belarus record holder Uladzimir Kazlou was leading until the third attempt with a second round 79.93, but already in the next round his opponent Aliaksandr Ashomka threw 80.25 and moved to the first place. Kazlou tried to respond but his javelin failed to go much beyond 78 metres.
In the men’s shot put there were no contenders for Khalid Habash Al-Suwaidi of Qatar whose best effort 18.84 came in the first round. In the women’s event Sydney Olympic champion Yanina Karolchyk-Pravalinskaya prevailed with 18.19.
Mikhail Dubitski for the IAAF
Selected results
Men
800 m
1. Igor Kachura 1:50.86
1500 m
1. Alexander Nazarov 3:58.40
5000 m
1. Pyotr Yesman 15:18.80
High Jump
1. Artsiom Zaitsau 2.15
2. Andrei Chubsa 2.15
Triple Jump
1. Dzmitry Dzetsuk 16.56
2. Aliaksandr Varabei 16.28
3. Andrey Yakovchik 15.64
Shot Put
1. Khalid Habash Al-Suwaidi (Qatar) 18.84.
Discus Throw
1. Ruslan Khlybau 62.10
2. Aliaksandr Malashevich 58.20
Hammer Throw
1. Vadim Devyatovskiy 81.70
2. Pavel Kryvitski 80.02
3. Andrei Varantsou 78.18.
Javelin Throw
1. Aliaksandr Ashomka 80.25
2. Uladzimir Kazlou 79.93
Women
400m
1. Alena Daniljuk 53.60
2. Hanna Tashpulatava 53.68
Long Jump
1. Iryna Charnushenka-Stasiuk 6.51
2. Veronika Shutkova 6.23
3. Nastassia Mironchyk 5.93
Triple Jump
1. Natallia Viatkina 13.80
2. Natallia Safronava 13.78
Shot Put
1. Yanina Karolchyk-Pravalinskaya 18.19
Discus Throw
1. Liudmila Kupriyanava 59.59
Hammer Throw
1. Volha Tsander 74.75
2. Maryia Smaliachkova 74.65
3. Alena Matoshka 73.83
