Last year’s U23 winner Steven Richter from Germany made a seamless transition into the senior ranks with victory in the discus to close proceedings on the first day of the European Throwing Cup in Nicosia on Saturday (14).
Despite the absence of many of the top European exponents and the conditions being far from perfect, the competition was still of a very high-calibre for this early juncture of the season with four throwers surpassing the 65 metre-line.
Romania’s Alin Alexandru Firfirica set the standard in the first round with a mark of 65.95m but he was promptly usurped by Richter who began his account with 66.23m, a mark that he would build on over the course of the next two rounds.
Richter extended his lead to 66.74m with his second throw before improving to an unassailable 67.29m in the third round, the fourth longest throw of his career so far.
“Winning at the European Throwing Cup with a throw of over 67 metres gives me great motivation as I look toward the European Championships in Birmingham. At the same time, I know there is always room for improvement and with perfect conditions, I believe I can throw beyond 70 metres,” he said.
Firfirica, who won this competition two years ago in torrential rain, held on for second with his opening round throw with Ruben Rolvink from the Netherlands and Spain’s Diego Casas rounding out the top four with 65.47m and 65.38m respectively.
Competing in the second group which was held concurrently in a different venue, Poland’s Damian Rodziak threw a lifetime best of 62.00m which placed him seventh overall.