Fifth women’s Asian Hammer Throw record for Zhang - Chinese championships

As has become custom, the women’s throwing disciplines were the key events in the Chinese National Championships in Shijiazhuang from 2-5 August.

Zhang reaches 74.86m

21-year-old Zhang Wenxiu set another Asian record in the Hammer Throw winning by almost 10 metres with the new record of 74.86m. Liu Yinghui (65.70m) and Hao Shuai (65.66m) were the two others on the podium. This was already Zhang’s fifth Asian record during her career, her first coming in April 2004 throwing also a then World junior record 72.37m. She had set the earlier record at the World Championships trials in June with 74.30m.

World youth best in women’s Shot Put

Only 16-years-old, Gong Lijiao became the youngest ever national champion in the women’s Shot Put. She won the tight shot competition with a world youth best 19.13m, bettering Ilke Wyludda’s (GDR) old mark of 19.08m from 1986 by five centimetres. Gong had thrown her previous best of 19.07m indoors this season and had an 18.77m outdoor best before this competition. Gong’s mark was also the best junior mark in the world since 1994 when fellow Chinese Cheng Xiaoyan set the Asian junior record of 20.02m. Reigning Chinese champion Li Ling was second at 18.91m and Li Meiju, who reigned over the shot in China for many years, third this time equalling her season’s best 18.84m.

The women’s discus was another close competition with the first three within one metre. Sun Taifeng, the winner at the World Champs trials, also took the national title with a 62.92m result. Song Aimin (62.47m) was second and Li Yanfeng third with a season’s best 62.24m.

19-year-old Chang Chunfeng won the women’s Javelin Throw at 58.43m. Juniors occupied all the podium positions, with 17-year-old Song Dan second with a season’s best 56.82m and Li Lingwei third at 55.43m.

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