Sweden's Bengtsson and France's Tavernier strike gold at world juniors | 15.07.2012
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| Angelica Bengtsson of Sweden. |
Bengtsson cleared 4.25m and 4.35m at the first time of asking and then, with her nearest rival having retired, she went over 4.50m with her second attempt before bringing the bar down three times at what would have been a world junior outdoor best of 4.60m.
“Before the competition, I had hoped to jump 4.50m or better so everything went well. Having jumped 4.58m last week, I had hoped I could get 4.60m as well but I'm still very happy with what I did,” said Bengtsson, who also won at the 2011 European Athletics Junior Championships and defended the global crown she won two years ago in the Canadian city of Moncton.
Italy's Roberta Bruni got the bronze medal with 4.20m
Tavernier moved up to third in the world all-time rankings when she sent the hammer out to a French junior record of 70.62m in the fourth round. For good measure, she also threw 69.12m one round later which would have been good enough to win the competition.
“What a way to celebrate Bastille Day. I've improved my personal best my more than two metres,” said the delighted Tavernier.
Alexia Sedykh, watched by her father and men's world record holder Yuriy, made it a French one-two with 67.34m for the silver medal and Belarus' Alena Navahrodskaya made it an all-European podium when she threw a personal best of 67.13m for the bronze.
Another French medal and national junior record came in the women's 400m hurdles when Aurelie Chaboudez finished second in 57.14.
Qatar's Amraf Mohamed Ashraf was unbeatable in the men's hammer as he achieved a world record distance of 85.57m but Hungary's 2011 World Youth Championships gold medallist Bence Pasztor has successfully moved up the ranks and took a silver in Barcelona with 76.74m.
Germany completed the European medal haul on the penultimate day of the Championships when they took the women's 4x100m silver medal in 44.24, the fastest time by a European junior team this year.
Full results and event reports from the IAAF World Junior Championships can be found here.
