Norwegian star, Henriette Jaeger, came just shy of her 300m European best by 0.03 despite taking a very dominant win at the Trond Mohn Games in Bergen on Thursday (28).
The European U23 400m champion impressed the home crowd as she built a confident winning margin ahead of Finland’s Mette Baas in second with a world lead of 36.66.
High-quality hammer
While Jaeger was the star of the night on the track, the men’s hammer took centre stage on the field with France’s Yann Chaussinand defeating a stacked line up with a near-PB of 81.07m.
He put together a really consistent series with four throws measured over 80m and his fifth round no throw having also landed beyond the magic mark.
Hungary's Bence Halasz, an Olympic silver medallist, three-time world bronze medallist, two-time silver and bronze European medallist, took second place with 80.59m while Olympic and European bronze medallist Mykhaylo Kokhan of Ukraine took third with 79.62m.
European leader this year, Merlin Hummel of Germany, had to settle for fourth despite throwing 79.56m, while European U20 champion Armin Szabalos took fifth with 78.84m and Norway’s Thomas Mardal took sixth with a PB of 78.66m.
The meet had also started with an incredible win in the women’s hammer from Finland’s Krista Tervo who extended her PB to 77.75m in the second round.
Her countrywoman Silje Kosonen took second with her second best distance of the season, 75,90m, while Denmark’s Katrine Koch Jacobsen took third with 73.74m, her sixth competition over 70m this year.
The Italian reigning European champion, Sara Fantini, however only managed 67.89m which came in the first round.
However Nick Ponzio, also of Italy, took the win in the men’s shot put with a clutch last round throw of 20.55m to snatch the lead from USA’s Christopher Licita.
Gronstad wins 800m
In the men’s 800m, Justin Davies shot out of the blocks in a very fast first 150m before holding the lead for most of the race.
But as the field hugged the final bend, Davies came under pressure with several athletes sat on his shoulder, then with 50m to go Norway’s Tobias Gronstad soared past the Briton to take the win in 1:46.11.
Alex Boterill followed the Norwegian through to take second in 1:46.32, while Davies finished third in 1:46.62.
Hakon Moe Berg, the European U20 1500m and 3000m champion, set a new PB of 1:47.08 and took fifth in the fast field.
While the women’s 800m also saw a home with Norway’s Pernille Antonsen finishing just shy of a PB in 2:00.85, as her compatriots Amanda Froynes and Malin Nyfors finished second and third in 2:01.52 and 2:02.25.
France’s Adele Gay, a European U23 silver medallist, stormed to a 4:06.93 win in the women’s 1500m with a great final 100m that saw her pull away from the rest of the field.
Great Britain’s Sarah Calvert tried to stay with the French athlete in the closing moments, but couldn’t quite hold on and finished in 4:08.70 while her countrywomen Ava Lloyd finished third in 4:09.16.
It was another French win in the men’s 300m as Muhammad Kounta powered to a new PB of 32.27 ahead of defending champion and Norwegian record holder, Andreas Kulseng in 32.34.
Norway took another win in the 100m hurdles as Martine Hjornevik ran a dominant race from the gun to clock 13.14 and take the victory in Bergen.
Then in the men’s 1500m Darragh McElhinney displayed his incredible kick as the Irishman flew round the pack to appear from nowhere and take the win in 3:38.10 in his season opener.
He took the win ahead of France’s Romain Mornet who took second in 3:38.27 and couldn’t hold off the 25-year-old Irishman in the closing 20 metres.