Alekna Qualifies For Worlds Final
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Mykolas Alekna will throw ninth in Monday's final.

T&F8/19/2023 1:35 PM | By: Cal Athletics

Alekna Qualifies For Worlds Final

Rising Junior Posts Second-Best Throw In Field

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BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – Despite weather-related delays that disrupted schedules on the first day of the World Athletics Championships, California track & field's Mykolas Alekna distinguished himself in a tough discus field to punch his ticket to Monday's final, where he will seek a second straight medal after winning silver last year.
 
No competitor in either qualifying group surpassed the auto-qualifying mark of 66.50m (218-2). Alekna's first throw of 66.04m (216-8) was the best of all round one attempts, taking an early lead before Sweden's Daniel Ståhl surpassed him with a mark of 66.25m (217-4) for the top spot of Group A. Reigning world champion Kristjan Čeh of Slovenia posted the top throw of Group B (and third overall) at 65.95m (216-4).
 
Alekna's fellow Lithuanian Andrius Gudžius, who earned bronze at last year's World Championships, also qualified for the final with a mark of 65.50m (214-10). World No. 4 Lukas Weißaidinger (Austria) and No. 5 Alex Rose (Samoa) were among the other qualifiers for Monday with throws of 65.61m (215-3) and 65.26m (214-1), respectively.
 
The next Cal thrower to take to the circle will be volunteer assistant coach Elena Bruckner, who will be one of two Americans in Group A of the women's discus qualifier. Competition is slated to begin at 12 a.m. PT on Sunday.
 
World Athletics Championships – Men's Discus Final (Aug. 21, 11:30 a.m.)
Qualifying Marks Notated
 
  1. Daniel Ståhl (Sweden) – 66.25m (217-4)
  2. Mykolas Alekna (Lithuania) – 66.04m (216-8)
  3. Kristjan Čeh (Slovenia) – 65.95m (216-4)
  4. Traves Smikle (Jamaica) – 65.71m (215-7)
  5. Lukas Weißaidinger (Austria) – 65.61m (215-3)
  6. Andrius Gudžius (Lithuania) – 65.50m (214-10)
  7. Fredrick Dacres (Jamaica) – 65.45m (214-8)
  8. Alex Rose (Samoa) – 65.26m (214-1)
  9. Matthew Denny (Australia) – 64.29m (210-11)
  10. Simon Pettersson (Sweden) – 63.93m (209-9)
  11. Brian Williams (USA) – 63.85m (209-5)
  12. Henrik Janssen (Germany) – 63.79m (209-3)
     
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