September 4, 2019 - Olympian Sara Kolak has set a new javelin throw record at the IAAF World Challenge Zagreb - "Hanžek".
The gold medalist javelin thrower from the 2016 Rio Olympics achieved her first victory at the IAAF World Challenge meeting in Zagreb, setting a new record of 66.42 meters, reports Index.hr.
This is also Sarah's best result this season in her first competition, led by her new coach, the legendary Norwegian javelin thrower Andreas Thorkildsen.
"The goal was to do the first three throws as best I could. I wanted some of the details I worked on to match, and it worked. I'm glad I went into the first throw relaxed, because I was always nervous with the first one. I was very pleased. The audience was phenomenal, and they carried me through. I'm glad this happened at home, and it is a great result before Doha. We have three weeks to prepare and all thoughts are on Doha,” said Sara Kolak after breaking the record and added:
"The hardest part is staying the same, after every great result, staying the same person you were before. I try to stay the same, even better - it's crazy. I want to be Sara, who enjoys throwing and not burdening herself with other things."
Sara Kolak’s first three throws were over 60 meters (65.82 and 61.51), and her longest (66.42) was longer than her throw to win the 2016 Olympic gold medal in Rio de Janeiro.
Sara Kolak celebrated at Mladost in front of Canadian Elizabeth Gleadle (63.77 m), Polish thrower Maria Andrejczyk (60.91 m) and Slovenian Martina Ratej (60.50 m).
Furthermore, the world's best discus thrower Sandra Perkovic achieved her eighth victory by throwing 67.78 meters in her 12th appearance at the IAAF World Challenge Series in Zagreb, while the second Croatian representative Marija Tolj finished third with a distance of 62.57 meters.
"I am very pleased with this performance. The new round at the stadium is very fast, but I have shown that I can throw well. I am only sorry that the last throw ended up in the net," Perkovic said on Gol.hr.
The Olympic gold medalist and world and European discus champion achieved her second best throw this season, just short of the 68.58 meters she has achieved at the European League competition in Varazdin.
"I wanted to be in the best possible mental and physical condition at Hanzek, because on Friday I am expected to appear in the final of the Diamond League in Brussels, where I am going for the win. My priority this year is the Doha World Cup, second in the list is the Diamond League, while Hanzek was in third place."
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