Girls' shot put final report - Donetsk 2013

WRITTEN FOR THE IAAF WEBSITE

Turkey’s Emel Dereli has dominated the girls’ Shot Put this year and last month threw a fine 19.99m so it was no surprise to see the 17-year-old capture the World youth title in thrilling fashion.

Following a 19.18m effort to lead the qualifying round this morning (11), the World Junior Championship eighth place finisher threw a superb 20.14m championship record and World youth best in the first round of tonight’s final to clinch her nation’s first ever medal in this event during the eight editions of these championships.

Competing with a 3kg implement for the first time in the World youth event and thus her qualifying throw becoming a championship record before her mammoth throw in the final, Dereli – who has improved by over a metre this season – was followed by Russia’s Alena Bugakova (18.60m) and the USA’s Ashlie Blake (17.57m) in silver and bronze, respectively.

Dereli had so much distance to spare over her compatriots that she could afford to register three fouls and decline to take her sixth and final attempt.

Sixteen-year-old Bugakova meanwhile, with a lifetime best of 19.17m set last month, went over 18-metres three times and finished clear of her American rival, who only finished 40cm adrift of her personal best.

Taking Russia’s first ever medal in this event, Bugakova has improved by over four metres this season, whilst Blake’s bronze medal represents the USA’s first medal in this event since World indoor bronze medallist, Michelle Carter took the 2001 title in Debrecen with 15.23m.

The 17-year-old, who additionally failed to qualify for the final of the discus in Donetsk, finished clear of Germany’s Anika Nehls in fourth with 17.23m, as Poland’s Klaudia Kardasz placed fifth with 16.98m.

*Subject to the usual ratification procedures.