Alekna smashes Diamond League record with 71.70m in London

67

A Wanda Diamond League record was set by  discus world record-holder Mykolas Alekna at the London Athletics Meet on Saturday.

Alekna took an early lead with 66.97m, but 2022 world champion Kristjan Ceh bettered it in round two with 68.37m.

Alekna responded with one of the best throws of his life – and the best throw ever produced at a Wanda Diamond League meeting – and sent his discus out to 71.70m.

Ceh, who had won nine consecutive competitions prior to this meeting, improved to 68.83m in the final round but had to settle for second place. British record-holder Lawrence Okoye was third with 67.24m.

While in the 10,000m, champion Gudaf Tsegay achieved her first Diamond League win of the season, producing a dominant run to win the women’s mile with the second-fastest time in history.

After a swift opening lap of 59.93, Tsegay settled into a steadier pace and went through 800m in 2:03.45.

At the bell, Australia’s Jessica Hull had closed the gap on the Ethiopian, but Tsegay had saved something for the end and kicked to victory in a national record of 4:11.88. Hull was second in 4:13.68, an Oceanian record.