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Lithuania's Mikolas Alekna breaks discus record held since 1986 – Winnipeg Free Press

Posted on by Neons

RAMONA, Okla. (AP) – Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania broke the discus world record that had stood since 1986 on Sunday at the Oklahoma Throwing Series.

Alekna's throw of 243 feet, 11 inches (74.35 meters) surpassed the mark of 243 feet (74.08 meters) set by German Jürgen Schult on June 6, 1986. Alekna's throw was originally 244-1 (later revised) but was measured at 74.41. World athletics. The protocol is subject to ratification.

According to World Athletics, Schult's mark while representing East Germany was the longest world record for men in athletics.

FILE - Silver medalist Mikolas Alekna of Lithuania celebrates during the discus medal ceremony at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Ore., July 20, 2022. Alekna broke the world record in the discus throw, which had been in place since 1986. Sunday, April 14, 2024, in the Oklahoma Throwing Series. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
FILE – Silver medalist Mikolas Alekna of Lithuania celebrates during the discus medal ceremony at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Ore., July 20, 2022. Alekna broke the discus world record that had been held since 1986. Sunday, April 14, 2024 in the Oklahoma Throwing Series. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

Alekna, 21, a student at the University of California, is a two-time medalist at the World Outdoor Championships. He won silver at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon and bronze in Hungary last summer.

His massive throw tied his father, Virgilius, for third on the all-time discus list. Two-time Olympic champion Virgilius Alekna threw 242-4 (73.88) in 2000.

Mikolas Alekna's big day comes a day after Cuba's Jaime Perez recorded the longest discus throw by a woman since 1989 with a mark of 239-9 (73.09).