In the first significant competition in Belarus this summer, European champion Elvira Herman sped to a 12.73 (0.5) clocking in the 100m hurdles in Minsk on Thursday (25).
Herman stopped the clock at 12.81 (1.1) in the heats before improving by nearly one-tenth in the final. Both of her times were faster than the previous world lead of 12.84 held by Finland's Annimari Korte.
“I am glad that there is an opportunity to plunge into competition against your rivals. Honestly, today was very hot and my legs were barely moving. However, I showed a good time. But, as the coach said, we are waiting for the best result for the national championship,” said Herman whose lifetime best stands at 12.64.
Herman clocked 12.70 a few weeks ago but that result was set in an unofficial competition in Minsk and does not count as a world lead.
Her training partner Sviatlana Parakhonka finished second to Herman in 13.09 while her husband Vitaly Parakhonka won the 110m hurdles in 13.57.
Herman was back on the track again today (26) and she finished second in the 200m in a lifetime best of 23.33, just behind Kristina Tsimanouskaya in 23.24. Other highlights include Tatsiana Khaladovich winning the javelin with 60.61m and Violetta Skvartsava reaching out to 13.87m in the triple jump.
Gudzius surpasses 65 metre-line on season’s debut
Reigning European champion Andrius Gudzius from Lithuania belatedly opened his season at the Lithuanian Throwing Cup in Birstonas on Thursday.
Gudzius had three valid throws with his best effort measured at 65.81m. His next competition will be in Vilnius on 29-30 June when many of Lithuania’s leading athletes are due to compete for the first time in 2020.
Another standout performance in Birstonas came from European bronze medallist Liveta Jasiunaite in the javelin. Jasiunaite’s best throw was measured at 58.01m.
“The main planned start is the Lithuanian Championships, after that there will be some commercial starts,” said Jasiunaite. The Lithuanian Championships take place on 7-8 August in Palanga.
In the second instalment of the TVP Sport Cup in Warsaw on Thursday evening, Piotr Lisek cleared 5.60m in his first competition of the year. The world bronze medallist entered at 5.20m after all of his rivals had exited. Combined eventer Pawel Wiesolek was second with 5.00m.
Lisek will compete internationally next weekend when he goes head-to-head with Sweden's world record-holder and European champion Armand Duplantis behind closed doors in Gothenburg.