Iosif Kesidis threw two metres further than he did last year but the home favourite and reigning champion still had to settle for the runner-up spot behind the precocious Hungarian Armin Szabados at the European Throwing Cup in Nicosia.
In inclement conditions which forced the competition to be delayed by more than 20 minutes, Szabados set the standard in the first round with 74.04m before improving to 74.45m on his second throw.
This proved to be the longest throw of the competition although Kesidis did apply pressure on the European U20 champion and world finalist with a fourth-round throw which was measured at 74.16m.
However, Szabados concluded the competition by consolidating his lead with a sixth-round throw of 74.39m.
"I’m very happy with the win, not happy with my performance due to the weather conditions. It was rainy and windy but ok, it's still winter. For the upcoming season I am aiming for the European Championships in Birmingham as well as a throw over 80 metres," said Szabados.
Szabados is one of the emerging forces in the discipline. He won the European U20 hammer title in Tampere last year by more than eight metres before making the final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo at the age of 19.
Mazur wins shot put gold for Moldova
Fourth last year, Alexandr Mazur took a rare victory for Moldova at the European Throwing Cup in the U23 men’s shot put.
After starting with a modest 17.86m, Mazur improved to 19.10m on his second attempt to move to top of the leaderboard. This was followed by four successive no-throws but his second round throw sufficed for a narrow victory over Sweden’s Leo Zikovic (18.99m) and Germany’s Lukas Schober (18.94m)
“I’m very satisfied with today’s result, even though my performance wasn’t at the level I know I’m capable of. Every competition is a step forward,” said Mazur who has a lifetime best of 20.17m.
Ellevine Kathleen Artesia Octavia Skare added another chapter to Norway’s run of success in the javelin with victory in the U23 women’s javelin.
Hungary’s Fanni Kover took an early lead, opening her campaign with a season’s best of 50.31m but Skare eclipsed Kover’s best effort with a third round throw of 50.68m.
She recorded a near-identical throw of 50.67m in the final round to add extra lustre to her performance.
"I am very happy with my performance and of course, with the gold medal at the European Throwing Cup. Unfortunately, the weather conditions and the delay didn’t help, but a new season is coming and, of course, new goals.
"There isn’t any championship for the U23 category this year, so my big target is the 55-metres mark," she said.
And the theme of Nordic success was continued in the U23 women’s discus with Ebba Salomonsson Lind taking a surprise victory.
Salomonsson Lind added more than two metres to her lifetime best in the fourth round with 55.79m for a clear and comprehensive victory over European U20 champion Andrea Njimi Tankeu Djeudji with 53.93m.
But at 18, Tankeu Djeudji was by far the youngest athlete in the competition and she will be eligible for the U23 competition for the next three editions of the European Throwing Cup.