Brazil’s Luiz Mauricio Da Silva stuns deep field to take men’s Javelin honours at Absa Kip Keino Classic
Two-time South American champion throws 84.54m personal best to beat at Ulinzi Sports Complex Stadium
𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢, 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚, 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟑𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓- Double South American champion, Luiz Mauricio Da Silva of Brazil, upset a deep field to win the men’s Javelin title at the sixth Absa Kip Keino Classic with a meet record of 86.34m on Saturday (May 31) at Ulinzi Sports Complex Stadium in Nairobi.
The 25-year-old raced off the blocks with a first round throw of 84.54m to shoot to the lead before spearing the air with his lifetime best in the second round to scoop the gold.
"It’s been a great experience to come back to Kenya. This is my second time here, and I feel this was a good competition for me with solid series throws. Now, I need to prepare for this year’s Tokyo Championships.
"I’m pleased with my performance today, and my goal for my next competition in Portugal is to maintain this form, especially throwing consistently like I did today, so I achieve more personal bests or even an Area Record - like today, this throw is an Area Record for South America," the new Absa Kip Keino Classic champion said through a translator.
Rio 2016 Olympic champion, Thomas Rohler of Germany launched his first effort to 80.79m that was enough for the silver, and he did not achieve any other legal throw on the day.
Portugal’s Leandro Ramos threw 80.68m in the third round to take home the bronze during the sixth World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series event of the season as the passionate crowd roared the field athletes on.
Local hero
Local hero and Beijing 2015 World Champion, Julius Yego finished fifth with his 78.74m effort in the second round, behind Curtis Thomson of the United States (78.78m) who ended just outside the podium.
The day however, belonged to Da Silva, who entered the competition as a dark horse.
"I feel that I’m in the right shape for my next events, all I can do now is to be grateful to Kenya for the event you’ve put on, the whole atmosphere - everyone in the crowd was cheering and this is very positive during a competition," the Brazilian gushed in paying tribute to the crowd.
He towed a big field that also saw two-time World Champion and Olympics bronze medallist, Grenada’s Anderson Peters who managed 77.49m.
Behind him was last year’s Kip Keino champion, Timothy Herman of Belgium, who threw 77.14m to end his title defence in eighth.
Elsewhere, Kenya’s Alex Toroitich Kiprotich posted a season-best 74.17m, placing ninth, while India’s Kishore Jena (73.06m) and Greece’s Ioannis Kyriazis (60.02m) rounded off the finishers.
ABSA KIP KEINO CLASSIC MEN’S JAVELIN RESULTS
1. BRA DA SILVA Luiz Mauricio 17 JAN 2000 86.34 PB
2. GER ROHLER Thomas 30 SEP 1991 80.79 SB
3. POR RAMOS Leandro 21 SEP 2000 80.68
4. USA THOMPSON Curtis 08 FEB 1996 78.78
5. KEN YEGO Julius 04 JAN 1989 78.74 SB
6. ESP QUIJERA Manu 13 JAN 1998 78.33
7. GRN PETERS Anderson 21 OCT 1997 77.49
8. BEL HERMAN Timothy 19 OCT 1990 77.14
9. KEN KIPROTICH Alex 10 OCT 1994 74.17 SB
10. IND JENA Kishore 06 SEP 1995 73.06
11. GRE KYRIAZIS Ioannis 19 JAN 1996 60.02
-By Robert Kibet | Freelance Journalist
-Photos: Peter Njoroge
