Mykolas Alekna has shattered his own world discus record by more than a metre, with a best throw of 75.56m at the Oklahoma Throws Series in Ramona (April 13).
With its gusty conditions and favourable tailwinds, the meeting is a regular date in the calendar for the world’s best throwers and has become somewhat of a pilgrimage in recent years.
Alekna, who secured the Olympic discus silver medal in Paris last summer, broke Jürgen Schult’s now historic world record of 74.08m with 74.35m at the same event last year.
This time round the Lithuanian raised the bar again and bettered his distance not once but twice, recording marks of 75.56m and 74.89m.
Matt Denny (Getty)
In one of the greatest ever discus competitions, five athletes went beyond 70 metres and seven surpassed 69 metres.
Matt Denny went second on the discus all-time list three days ago with 74.25m and the Olympic bronze medallist improved his mark to 74.78m in Ramona.
Lawrence Okoye, 13 years after throwing 68.24m in Halle, broke his British record with a best throw of 70.76m. Compatriot Nick Percy recorded a distance of 67.73m at last year’s edition and got close with 67.04m this year.
Elsewhere, Sam Mattis, who threw 70.08m to place second behind Denny three days ago, improved his best to 71.27m and was third overall. Germany’s Clemens Prufer recorded a distance of 71.01m and finished fourth with Okoye fifth.
» Subscribe to AW magazine here, check out our new podcast here or sign up to our digital archive of back issues from 1945 to the present day here
