Alekna wins first season clash with Kanter 22. May 08

Lithuania's double Olympic Champion Virgilijus Alekna threw a Czech all-comers record to win his first clash of the season with long term rival World Discus Champion Gerd Kanter.

The tenth memorial meeting for former Olympic Discus Champion and World record holder Ludvik Danek in Turnov (CZE) was the site of this dual of the Baltic Giants, where 36-year-old Alekna threw 71.25m to smash Athlete Liaison officer for the event Imrich Bugar's 25-year-old all-comers record of 69.92m in front of nearly 2000 eager spectators.

Kanter had lead the competition with his second round throw of 69.62m, and the giant Lithuanian was struggling to keep up with his junior competitor until the fifth round where he closed in to 69.32m, before his explosive final round throw.

Alekna said:
"This was a great competition at the start of the season. I just returned from my training camp in Spain and must be satisfied. This will be a special season for me, because it will be my last Olympic Games. Not my last season, but my last Olympics."

Their career head-to-head statistics show a massive 45:4 matches to Alekna, however since his inspiring performance in Osaka, Kanter has showed continuous improvement and the Olympic show down between these two Discus greats is certain to be a Beijing highlight.

Alekna and Kanter will have a chance to battle it out again on Saturday at the FBK Games in Hengelo.

european-athletics.org