Four-time world champion Pawel Fajdek produced his best performance since 2017 when he sent the hammer lout to a European-Leading 81.62m at the Meeting Internacional Jaen Paraiso Interior, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meeting, in Andujar, Spain, on Saturday (22).
The Pole, 32, opened with a huge 81.61m – becoming the first European to throw over 80 metres in 2021 – and then went over 80 metres again in round five with 80.94m before finishing off in fine fashion by improving by one centimetre with another excellent effort of 81.62m for his second meeting record of the night.
It was the 59th competition of Fajdek’s career when he has thrown more than 80 metres and the 30th when he has gone further than 81 metres.
Fajdek’s compatriot, friend and rival Wojciech Nowicki also showed great from, with the reigning European champion reaching a season’s best of 79.54m in the fourth round while France’s 2019 world championships silver medallist Quentin Bigot achieved a PB of 78.99m in the same round, adding 41cm to his previous best set back in 2014.
The throws provided the highlights of the second of this year’s World Athletics Continental Tour Silver and Bronze meetings in Europe.
Latvia’s Lina Muze set a meeting record of 62.28m in the javelin while in a tight and exciting shot put contest, five men surpassed the 20-metre line in the shot put. The Portuguese pair of Tsanko Arnaudov and Francisco Belo both reached 20.25m but the win went to Arnaudov thanks to a better second effort.
European athletes notched up three victories in Andujar’s track events.
Nick Smidt of the Netherlands won the 400m hurdles in 50.13, Sweden’s Emile Blomberg was a surprise winner of the 3000m steeplechase in a personal best of 8:29.68, while Spain’s Caridad Jerez took the 100m hurdles in 13.29.
Plaudits should also be given to Portugal’s Catia Azevedo, who set a 400m national record of 51.61 when finishing second to Domincan Republic’s Marileidy Paulino over one lap of the track, the latter winning in 50.25.
Doha 2019 world triple jump champion Yulimar Rojas, from Venezuela, lit up the meeting with her 15.43m performance, the equal second best ever jump but behind her France’s Rouguy Diallo finished second with 14.20m with home star and 2019 European indoor champion Ana Peleteiro third with 14.17m.
Full results here.