Perkovic makes her plans for Arles, Barcelona and Split

Croatia's 2009 European Athletics Junior Championships women's Discus gold medallist Sandra Perković smashed her national record with 66.85m on Saturday and will be looking to improve even further at the 10th European Cup Winter Throwing in Arles, France, on 20-21 March.

Perković, still only 19 although she is no longer a junior, added 4.06m to her old mark from last year at the Croatian Winter Throws Championships in Split.

"I only decided on the eve of the championships to compete because I thought I needed another competition to prepare for the cup in France. The forecast was for a beautiful day, so I thought, 'Why not take advantage of the situation,'" said Perković.

"It's a good mark but it's also just the start of the season. It's still only March so it is hard to say now what will happen in the summer. However, you can expect a lot from me this year. Maybe even in Arles, although I'm deliberately competing in the Under 23 competition there," she added.

"In Arles, I expect to be first even though I'll probably be the youngest. I don't want to compete in the senior competition at this moment."

However, Perković has already shown she has no problem holding her own with anybody of any age.

After taking the European junior gold medal in Novi Sad, Serbia, last summer, she went on to make the final of her event at the World Championships in Berlin.

"Obviously the two big goals for this summer are the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona and the IAAF Continental Cup. If I can throw as well in Barcelona as I did in Split this weekend then I could get a medal. It might even be good enough for gold," she commented, knowing that Russia's Darya Pishchalnikova won her European title with 65.55m four years ago.

A Croatian woman has never won a medal at the European Athletics Championships, since the country became independent, but High Jump queen Blanka Vlašić will also be going to Barcelona looking to triumph.

"The Continental Cup in September is being held in Split so it would be a huge honour to be part of Team Europe in that event and that's why doing well in Barcelona is also so important," commented Perković.

Perković could soon rival her compatriot Vlašić, a former European Athlete of the Year, for the affections of Croatian athletics fans.

"Blanka has been great for athletics in Croatia but it would be even better if there were other faces for the public to recognise as well."

In Split on Saturday, Perković also improved her national Shot Put outdoor record to 16.02m although she has thrown 16.23m indoors this winter.