It was 25 degrees and a sunny but blustery afternoon for spectators who witnessed some really fine athletics. The lead changed several times in the battle for victory in the discus between Daniel Ståhl and the world-leader, Fedrick Dacres. Ståhl led after the first round with 66.25 in the strong, gusty wind, then lost his position in the second and regained it with a throw of 67.34.
In the fourth round Dacres cast the discus 68.36, which earned him victory even if Daniel fought back and increased to 68.13 with his final throw.
– It was pretty windy but it was ok. I came out and I executed my technique well. I wanted a big throw but I am ok with 68. I was stable on 67 so I am thankful. I was given an awesome reception. The crowd was lively and I could hear the Jamaicans in the crowd – I love their vibe.
Jamaica is known for sprints and speed so to have a big strong thrower is not really our thing but hopefully I can help. It is great to compete with the big guys and these are who I have looked up to, said Dacres.
”We always try to finish one-two”
Daniel was gracious in defeat:
– I’m really pleased even if I didn’t win. And happy for Dacres, we are in the same management team and always try to finish one-two, he explained.
– At the moment I am consistently around 66-67 m and this was a little better than Oslo, a more even series of throws. It was a fantastic competition with good support from the public.
Behind Dacres 68.36 and Ståhl’s 68.13 were Andrius Gudzius, 67.29, Philip Milanov 65.05, Robert Harting 66.20, Piotr Malachowski 64.60, Olympic Champion, Christoph Harting, 61.75 and Malmö’s Axel Härstedt 60.28. Five men over 66 metres in the same event for the first time in five years.
Perkovic defeated again
Just like in Oslo, the men’s and women’s discus was combined and again the women’s world number one and stadium record holder (68.77), Sandra Perkovic, not only threw a shorter distance the men’s winner but was also beaten in her own category by Cuba’s Yaimi Perez who managed 17 centimetres further – 67.92 to 67.75. The stadium record survived by a metre.
9.69w by De Grasse
The international highlights were many and the most noteworthy came from Canada’s Olympic bronze-medalist, Andre de Grasse who, with the help of a tail-wind of 4.8 m/s, won the 100m in 9.69. Five men ran under 10 seconds in the extreme wind and in eighth place was nineteen-year-old Austin Hamilton from Malmö who, with 10.16w dipped under the Swedish record.
• Orlando Ortega won the 110m hurdles in 13.09w – 0.02 ahead of Sergey Shubenkov.
• Luvo Manyonga, South Africa, won the long jump competition seven centimeters ahead of countryman Rushwal Samaai. Unfortunately Manyonga sprained his foot in the last jump. An X-ray showed no signs of fractures.
• Timothy Cheriuyot finished strongest in the 1500m and won by seven tenths of a second, in 3:30.77 – a new world-lead and only a second from the stadium record. Sixteen-year-old Norwegian, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, ran his own race at the back but still finished in 3.39.92 – a personal best by 1.5 seconds.
Three Swedish runners up
It was a good afternoon for the Swedes and the crowd certainly got value for money in the form of three runners-up places. In the women’s pole vault, European bronze-medalist, Angelica Bengtsson cleared the same height as winner, Nicole Büchler from Switzerland, and in the 800m Lovisa Lindh was only three tenths of a second from victory with her 1:59.41. Victor went to Olympic silver-medalist, Francine Niyonsaba.
Kallur and Green farewell
The opening ceremony included the traditional drive into the stadium but this time the passenger was no secret. In clear view in the back seat sat Swedish hurdler, Susanna Kallur. Her sucessful hurdles career, which she chose to end after the European Indoor Championships in March, was celebrated by everyone in the stadium.
– My first distinct memory of the Olympic Stadium is from 1999 when I competed in my first gala. Ludmila Engquist made her comeback and won and I set a PB. It was an amazing start to my international career, said Sanna.
– And of course I’ll always remember my own comeback last year!
High jumper, Emma Green, another Swedish star who ended her career in March, also received an appreciation from the crowd.
/Jonas Hedman
18 June, 2017
