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Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage |
Sri Lankan javelin star Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage capped his remarkable season with another major victory, winning the men’s javelin at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship Budapest 26, yesterday becoming the first athlete to throw beyond 90 metres on Hungarian soil.
Pathirage produced a winning throw of 91.09m to claim the title, a mark that also stood as the historic first for the venue.
The victory adds another milestone to a stunning season for the Sri Lankan, who had won 11 of his 12 competitions before arriving in Budapest. He also won the Diamond League Final after recording a world-leading 92.62m in Rome and followed it with a 92.07m victory in Zurich.
Pathirage made a slow start in Budapest, opening with 75.89m, while Germany’s Julian Weber immediately moved into the lead with 84.09m. Anderson Peters of Grenada then took control in the second round with 86.18m. Pathirage responded with 85.69m before improving to 87.11m in the third round to move into first place. Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem managed a season’s best of 81.49m but finished outside the top four after three rounds.
Pathirage saved his best for last. Throwing first in the final round, the Sri Lankan unleashed a 91.09m effort to pull clear of his rivals and secure another prestigious title. Peters finished with 82.63m, while Weber’s final throw measured 78.75m.
