Sandra said after the rally in Eugene twenty days ago that she knew how good she was and how much she was worth, and that she hoped that would be seen in the next competitions. And we all saw it – Sandra Perković came to her 45th career victory in the Diamond League Oslo, leaving behind Olympic winner Valarie Allman for the first time this season, reports Sportske Novosti.
After heavy rain at the Bislett Stadium, the best Croatian athlete threw 66.82 meters, which was unattainable for all rivals. Sandra Perković finally defeated the Olympic winner, American Valerie Allman (65.91), after she was second behind the American in Birmingham and Eugene.
After Allman was better than Sandra in both Birmingham and Eugene, Sandra was quick to point out that the season is long and that she has time to catch Allman. What she announced, she achieved, and she has the opportunity for a rematch on Saturday in Paris in a new Diamond adventure. After three chillier rallies, a heat wave has been announced for Saturday in the French capital, with temperatures over 30 degrees.
The main clash between Perković and Allman is reserved again in Eugene at the World Champs on July 15. Allman will be at home, but Sandra’s eventual victory will be even sweeter if she manages to knock down her rival in her backyard.
The Croatian record holder opened Diamond League Oslo with 61.91 and took first place, while Allman recorded a faulty throw. In the second series, Perković threw 66.82. The American failed to overtake her with 65.67, just like in the next two series, in which she threw 62.06 and 65.21, and Sandra entered X twice.
In the fifth attempt, Allman once again crossed the 65-meter mark (65.53), again insufficient to overthrow Sandra, who this time threw 64.92. In the last series, which includes only the top three, they were joined by Olympic runner-up, German Kristin Pudenz.
Sandra threw first in that final and hit the net, offering Allman to overtake her in the finish but the American could not go further than 65.91. Pudenz threw 63.00 in that last attempt, so her best shot was from the third series (63.31).
All in all, a great victory for Sandra, already the fifth in her career in Oslo. There aren’t that many at any other Diamond League rally, but she could also reach 5 in Paris. Throwing 66.82 is her second-best second result of the season, as she threw further only in Birmingham (67.26).
Allman has the best of this season in the world and a personal record (71.46).
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