by Alfonz Juck
Sara Kolak, photo by PhotoRun.net
Croatian stars Kolak and Perkovic winning
Allyson Felix, photo by PhotoRun.net
ZAGREB (CRO, Sep 3): Packed Sports Park Mladost saw in good weather (after Monday shot put rain scare) wins by home crowd favorites. At the beginning of the main programme javelin Olympic gold medalist Sara Kolak first time under new coach Andreas Thorkildsen twice improved the meet record with 65.82 and 66.42, her not only 2019 best but also top mark since July 9, 2017. Second Canadian Liz Gleadle 63.77. Later in the evening Sandra Perkovic delivered discus win. She took the lead with 64.75 in round three and improved to 67.78 in round five, it is her second best of 2019. Behind her Kristin Pudenz 63.25 and young Croatian Marija Tolj 62.57. In the final 100 m Mike Rodgers (weather went colder) won in 10.04 (-0.1) over Canadian 200 m specialist Aaron Brown 10.18 with Justin Gatlin after cramp fourth 10.29. Later it was confirmed should not be a serious injury for Gatlin. Memorial hurdles event had Shane Brathwaite from Barbados as winner 13.47 (+0.1) with favorite Sergey Shubenkov third 13.54. Reigning World champion Phyllis Francis won the 400 m in 51.02 over legendary Allyson Felix 51.67 and Poland´s Iga Baumgart-Witan 51.90. More US wins for Chris Benard in triple 16.97 (+0.6), Sharika Nelvis 12.73 (+0.2) ahead of Christina Clemons 12.82 in the hurdles and Kate Grace in the 1500 m in 4:07.91. Balkan countries celebrated in men´s 800 m as Amel Tuka from Bosnia confirmed top shape and clearly won over Marcin Lewandowski 1:44.78 to 1:45.28. Maja Mihalinec from Slovenia surprisingly won the 200 m in 22.88 (0.0), new PB and Doha standard. Second US Brittany Brown 22.91. Canadian Matt Hughes clocked 8:23.42 in the steeple with Finland´s Topi Raitanen second 8:25.51, in sixth place Kaur Kivistik from Estonia achieved 8:28.55 not only Doha standard but also national record. World champion Luvo Manyonga was the best in long jump with 804 (+0.3) on the brand new track.
