WRITTEN FOR THE IAAF WEBSITE
The performance of the championships so far undoubtedly must go to New Zealand’s Tom Walsh, who launched the shot to an astonishing 22.31m championship and Oceanian record to capture victory by an equally-impressive 87cm margin.
The 25-year-old reigning world indoor and outdoor champion was yet to compete indoors this winter but he threw 21.87m on home turf earlier this month, causing many to name him their pre-event favourite.
And the Olympic bronze medalist duly delivered, as his gigantic last-round throw moved him to fourth on the world all-time list, breaking the longest-standing championship record – belonging to Ulf Timmermann with 22.24m from 1987 – in the process.
Walsh additionally reached an mightily impressive 22.13m on two occasions on his first and third efforts, and while his 22.31m flyer here bettered his previous 21.78m best from his 2016 win, it also eclipses his 22.21m outdoor personal best.
The winner said afterwards:
“I came here to win but I knew that I would have to throw well to beat these guys. It was a crazy competition but I finished with a boom. I came here to retain my title and it is a good feeling to achieve that.
“The crowd was awesome, especially the last 20 minutes with the crowd so close, and they pushed me to throw far.”
Germany’s four-time European champion, David Storl upped his game to register a 21.44m season’s best to claim his third consecutive silver medal in these championships.
The 2011 and 2013 world outdoor champion’s placing replicates his 2014 and 2016 event position, and the 2012 Olympic silver medalist should be pleased with his consistent series here, which also included 21.15m, 21.08m and 21.18m.
The world indoor leader prior to this historic final with 22.17m to take the Czech title, Thomas Stanek claimed the bronze medal, courtesy with another fine 21.44m throw.
The 2018 IAAF World Indoor Tour winner and European indoor silver medalist’s best effort was supported by a 21.12m second-best put, thus providing Storl with the bronze on count-back.
Meanwhile in fourth, Olympic fifth placer Darlan Romani of Brazil unleashed a 21.37m south American record on his final throw, following 21.23m and 21.09m in the earlier rounds.
In fifth, Bosnia’s Mesud Pezer set a 21.15m national record, while US duo Darrell Hill and Ryan Whiting placed sixth and seventh – with a 21.06m personal best for Hill and a 21.03m season’s best for 2012 and 2014 champion Harting, respectively.
Poland’s Konrad Bukowiecki will be disappointed with eighth position, the European indoor champion having to settle for a 20.99m best today.
Further back, European outdoor silver medalist, Michal Haratyk of Poland finished tenth with 20.69m and Jamaica’s O’Dayne Richards set a 19.93m personal best in eleventh spot.
Elsewhere, Maksim Afonin – an authorised neutral athlete – was a meter and a half down on his 2018 and lifetime 21.39m best in thirteenth position with only 19.84m.
