New Delhi, May 9: Indian thrower Krishna Poonia, participating in the Salinas, California discus throwing competition, finished a creditable second. According to information reaching here, she recorded a throw of 63.74m, a personal best. Poonia, who has been training in Portland under Mac Wilkins, had recently qualified for the Beijing Olympics. The annual throwing competition at Hartnell College grounds attracts throwers from across the globe and the windy conditions at this time of the year in Salinas support the participants. Perhaps that could be one of the reasons Poonia, who recently recorded a throw of 59.04 in Walnut, improved by more than four metres.

India’s Vikas Gowda also had a good outing in the competition, throwing the disc to a distance of 64.83m. However, he finished fifth overall. The eventual winner in the women’s section was Stephanie Trafton from USA. In the men’s competition, world champion Gerd Kanter from Estonia threw 71.88m to top the field.

Results

Men: Gerd Kanter (Estonia) 71.88m, Mart Israel (Estonia) 65.03m, John Godina (USA) 64.99m, Benn Harradine (Australia) 64.95m, Vikas Gowda (India) 64.83m. Women: Stephanie Trafton (USA) 66.17m, Krishna Poonia (India) 63.74m, Anna Soderberg (Sweden) 61.58m.