Lithuanian Evening TV news delayed as Alekna overhauls Kanter in final round in Kaunas

European, World and Olympic Champion Virgilijus Alekna (LIT) was the star of the Kaunas European Athletics Permit Meeting yesterday in a night that saw 23 Seasons Bests, Six Personal Bests, two National Records and three Lithuanian All Comers records, in front of a capacity crowd of 6,000 spectators.
Home town favourite Alenka, put on a stunning display in the men's Discus where he trailed long time leader Gerd Kanter (EST) until his sixth and final round before managing a throw of 71.56m to win the competition. Kanter, the world leader, tried to reverse the positions but his best of just over 70m was not strong enough to ward off the champion.

Speaking after his win Alenka, paying tribute to the local supporters saying: "This was a really hard fight but I managed to win. Thank you all for your support and for believing in me."

Dmitrij Valukevič (SVK) set a new Slovakian Record in the men's Triple Jump when he reached 17.35m in his last attempt pushing Mykola Savolaynen (UKR) into second place with 16.49m

A second National Record was set in the men's Discus by Piotr Malachowski (POL) improving his Polish best with a throw of 66.61m

The Lithuanian Relay team finished second in the men's 4 x 100m with a time of 40.85 just .34seconds outside of their own Lithuanian record achieved in Debrecen earlier this month.

Indeed, more good luck continued to shine on the home team as they walked away with a total of six victories, three second place finishes, and four third place finishes, with the women claiming five of those victories winning the 100 m, 4x100 m, and 800 m as well as the High Jump and the Javelin.

Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, pictured below, was on hand to celebrate the success of his athletes and took part in the presentation ceremony awarding prizes to the winner of the men's Long Jump as well as presenting the President's Cup to Virgilijus Alekna for what was regarded as Lithuania's best performance.

Lithuanian National Television broadcast six hours live from the European Athletics Permit Meeting in Kaunas and even postponed the main news bulletin in order to show the final of men's Discus. More that 50 Lithuanian and International Journalists were accredited for the event which augers very well for the European Athletics u23 Championships which will be held there in two years time.

For most of the athletes this is their last competition before the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Osaka (Japan) next month.

Results

	Athlete		SB		1	2	3	4	5	6	Result
1	Virgilijus Alekna	13.02.1972	70,51	LIT	65,29	67,65	67,62	67,37	x	71,56	71,56
2	Gerd Kanter	6.05.1979	72,02	EST	66,79	x	66,62	69,92	x	70,92	70,92
3	Piotr Malachowski	7.06.1983	66,09	POL	64,75	65,87	62,19	66,61	x	63,23	66,61
4	Gabor Mate	9.02.1979	65,69	HUN	66,45	x	x	x	x	x	66,45
5	Zoltan Kövago	10.04.1979	65,19	HUN	65,65	x	66,42	62,35	x	x	66,42
6	Ian Waltz	15.04.1977	67,98	USA	64,17	x	64,93	x	63,10	x	64,93
7	Michael Möllenbeck	12.12.1969	65,29	GER	63,33	60,48	62,21	61,78	62,19	64,50	64,50
8	Aleksander Tammert	2.02.1973	64,09	EST	x	63,02	63,23	63,07	64,23	63,31	64,23
9	Jarred Rome	21.12.1976	68,37	USA	61,43	x	61,97				61,97
10	Frantz Kruger	22.05.1975	66,76	FIN	x	x	x				0