After the competition, M. Alekna, who finished second, admitted feeling tension due to the large number of his spectators, about 5,000 gathered. “I couldn’t handle it” – he briefly summarized.
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The record fell already with K. Čeh’s first throw – the Slovenian hurled the discus 70 meters and 4 centimeters and was greeted with applause. Meanwhile, Mykolas Alekna’s first throw was not counted.
The new record lasted very briefly – less than 10 minutes. With his second throw, K. Čeh threw the discus 72 meters 56 centimeters. This throw was met with even more applause.
Further throws by K. Čeh were not as successful, but enough for victory. The Slovenian surpassed the 70-meter mark once more – with his sixth throw, when he threw the discus 70 m 9 cm. Read more about the competition here.
Čeh was pleasantly surprised by Vilnius
The Slovenian, warmly welcomed by the spectators, said after the competition that he was surprised by the number of spectators and promised to return next year.
“These are the first competitions in my life where discus throw is the main event and the spectators gathered because of discus throw,” K. Čeh marveled.
The competition winner admitted to journalists that he did not expect to throw so far.
“I just expected to perform solidly because these are already my tenth competitions this season. I think I am the first who had so many competitions. I definitely did not expect to throw this far,” said the Slovenian.
When asked by journalists if he still has room for improvement, the winner did not hesitate. “As my coach and my wife would say – I definitely do, and in many areas,” K. Čeh replied with a smile.
The Slovenian said this was his first time in Lithuania, but he hopes to return next year because the competition was very good. He revealed he did not have time to see much of Vilnius but had dinner in the old town on the eve of the tournament.
“It was very good. Delicious dishes, very large portions. The evening was great,” said K. Čeh.
Shortly after a brief interview with journalists, the winner was immediately surrounded by a crowd of children wanting photos and autographs.
Alekna tried to take risks
M. Alekna participated in the competition driven by a desire for revenge. After recovering from a torn chest muscle injury, the Lithuanian lost twice to K. Čeh this year – both in the European Championship final and in the decisive Diamond League competitions.
However, only one, the third, of his throws met the expectations of the spectators who hoped for his victory. With his third throw, M. Alekna threw the discus 69 m 30 cm. This throw earned him second place.
Still, even with this best throw, he failed to improve the Vingis Park Stadium record set by his father Virgilijus – 70 m 01 cm.
Three of M. Alekna’s throws were unsuccessful, and two others flew less than 62 m.
“At first, a few throws failed, then I tried to take risks. The discus flew into the net, so it’s a bit of a pity, but there’s no time to be sad. This is a celebration for the entire sports community, for all of Vilnius. Such competitions have never happened before, so it’s very joyful,” M. Alekna told journalists after the competition.
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He admitted that throwing in front of such a large crowd in his homeland affected him a bit and caused tension.
“Of course, tension arose. This time I couldn’t handle it. But next time, I hope there will be even more spectators. I am ready to learn from mistakes, improve, and I hope to win next year,” said M. Alekna.
V. Alekna said he congratulated K. Čeh on his victory. “We always congratulate each other,” he said.
Summarizing the season as difficult, M. Alekna said he plans to stay in Lithuania until about March, then travel to the USA.
The third place in the competition was taken by Olympic champion Jamaican Rojay Stone. His discus flew the farthest at 67 m 11 cm.
All three prize winners recently took the entire podium in the Diamond League final. For all three discus throwers, these were the last competitions of the season.
There were more discus throwing legends in the stadium: the competition was opened by symbolic throws of two Olympic champions Virgilijus Alekna and Romo Ubartas.
In total, 6 participants competed. Besides the already mentioned discus throwers, the older brother of Mykolas, Martynas Alekna, and this year’s European Athletics Championship discus throw finalists from the Netherlands Shaquille Emanuelson and Ruben Rolvinikas tested their strength at Vingis Park Stadium. Each athlete had one throw.
While last year the sky threw lightning before the competition, this time better weather was hard to expect. The sun shone, only occasionally hiding behind clouds, and it was pleasantly warm.
This undoubtedly contributed to the large number of spectators. About half an hour before the start of the competition, officials stopped letting cars into Vingis Park – all parking spaces were taken.
“One record has already happened. Vingis Park Stadium has never seen so many spectators,” Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas rejoiced before the competition.
Usually, to invite stars of this level to commercial competitions, organizers have to pay fees ranging from 3,000 to 8,000 euros, but Olympic and world champions came voluntarily.
The event organizer, Aleknas’ coach Mantas Jusis, said that Lithuanian discus throwing traditions, started by Romo Ubartas, Virgilijus Alekna, and Andrius Gudžius, also helped to attract athletes.
In the discus throw competition in Vilnius, athletes competed for a prize fund of 10,000 euros.
