31 degrees in the air, at first perfectly okay wind conditions and a Daniel Ståhl in top form in the same special place where the Swedish World Cup and Olympic gold medalist set a Swedish record three years ago.
All the ingredients were in place to achieve really long discus throws when over 500 spectators had folded out their deck chairs or sat down on the best nearby bench to follow this year’s edition of Bottnarydskastet, a couple of miles west of Jönköping.
By winning the women’s class at the new annual best of 59.44 meters, Sweden’s Vanessa Kamga had previously shown that it was not possible to complain about the conditions before it was time for the men’s class – but then the wind calmed down and the really long lengths seemed to be absent.
Daniel Ståhl admittedly delivered 67.33 already in the second throw and had thus secured the victory. Otherwise, however, he did not have a better result than 65.75 after five rounds – but he saved the best in the end.
Despite a wind like more or less completely disappeared, Ståhl finished in the best way and was so close to getting past the 70-meter marker for the twelfth time in his career, two of which have occurred in Bottnaryd.
The discus stopped at 69.22 meters, which confirms that the form is still good before the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, July 15-24.
Simon Pettersson had it all the more difficult in the discus ring and had to settle for two at 62.93.
Two competitions now remain for the two medal jumps before the world championships in the USA: the Bauhaus gala at Stockholm Stadium and Karlstads GP.
The text is updated
Read more:
“Much easier to throw in Bottnaryd”
World year best by Daniel Ståhl