Maria Abakumova

The organisers of the IAAF World Challenge meeting in Berlin couldn’t have hoped for a better start. In the first round of the first event of the day, Maria Abakumova improved the Javelin meeting record to 68.82m. But the Russian wasn’t finished yet.

In round four, she achieved 70.53m – the third best throw of her career, the tenth best throw ever and the farthest distance marked since September 2011 when Abakumova won the World title in Daegu with 71.99m.

It was the Russain’s fourth consecutive victory since her third-place finish at the IAAF World Championships on home soil in Moscow.

“My technical coach has told me all year long that I can throw 70 metres this season – and he was right,” she said. “I have to admit that I am thinking about the World record now. My family and my whole team help me believe I can make this dream come true.” The World record has been set by Czech Barbora Spotakova in 2008 with a mark of 72.28m.
Current World champion from Germany Christina Obergfoll had to leave the big stage to Abakumova, placing third with 63.30m behind German champion Linda Stahl’s 65.35m.

“Since Moscow, I have found it hard to stay focused,” admitted Obergfoll. “The years before, I have been the one who has set big marks after the top event. This year it’s the other way round.”

With her first gold medal being safely stored away at home, she could still enjoy the competition despite the defeat.

source:Silke Bernhart & IAAF.org