Mykolas Alekna Dominates Top Discus Field at Diamond League Meet in Poland

World-recordholder Mykolas Alekna’s remarkable season continued Sunday with a dominant victory over a field of the best discus throwers on the planet.

The 23-year-old Cal grad delivered the four best throws of the competition to win the Silesia Diamond League meet at Chorzow, Poland.

Alekna wasn’t expected to compete this season after suffering a complete tear of his left pectoral tendon while training in March. By June, he was back in the ring.

The Lithuanian star, who twice broke the world record the past two seasons, posted a winning mark of 238 feet, 1 inch (72.58 meters) in the fifth round to crush the 13-year-old meet record of 225-1 (68.60) by Robert Harting of Germany and eclipses his own year-old Diamond League record of 235-3 (71.70).

The victory came 10 days after suffering his only setback of the season, losing to 2022 world champion Kristjan Ceh of Slovenia in the European Championships. He beat Ceh by 12 feet in this one.

“I feel amazing,” Alekna told the pool reporter for World Athletics. “I turned the frustration from the European Championships into motivation. I just tried to move as fast as I can, I did not do any major changes. I always try to throw the same in any conditions.

“I am happy that I bounced back after the European Championships, I am happy with this result. The competition was really competitive with Kristjan Ceh.

“The people were cheering, it was probably the best crowd in the world. Silesia for me is magical, amazing and loud. This is my first time in Silesia and I would love to come back. It is so close to home and I saw many fans with the Lithuanian flag.”

Alekna also vanquished 2021 Tokyo Olympic champion and three-time world champ Daniel Stahl of Sweden, who placed third, 2024 Paris Olympic champ Roje Stona of Jamaica, who was sixth, and 2026 world leader (No. 2 all-time) Matthew Denny of Australia, who checked in eighth.

Camryn Rogers | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Meanwhile, fellow Cal grad Camyn Rogers had the five best throws of the day to capture the women’s hammer throw. The 27-year-old Paris Olympic champ threw 252-11 (77.09) to beat American DeAnna Price, the 2019 world champ, by more than six feet.

“I am really happy. This season has been amazing, I have had the best throw of my life. And to close the season with this throw is wonderful,” Rogers said.

While Alekna will compete at the Diamond League final, Sept. 4 and 5 at Brussels, Belgium, the women’s hammer won’t be contested there.

“It is incredible that my season is already over in August. I will go home to Richmond in Canada, have a staycation and relax and then start to get ready in Texas for the next three years with world champs and Olympics.

“I am always so excited to come here because I know how passionate and supportive they are about hammer throw.”

A two-time world champ, Rogers threw a lifetime best 266-3 (81.13) in April to solidify her spot at No. 2 on the all-time world list. She finished her season with 10 victories at 12 meets in seven countries.

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