Sandra Perkovic may not have been her usual dominant self so far this year, but the home crowd at the Hanzekovic Memorial cheered the world and Olympic discus champion on to a 67.78m victory.
German champion Kristin Pudenz led for the first two rounds after opening with 63.25m. Perkovic started her series with 62.18m, but soon found herself in the highly unusual situation of being overtaken by a fellow Croatian as compatriot Marija Tolj, the European U23 champion, threw 62.57m in round two.
Fellow Olympic champion Sara Kolak also produced a convincing performance, much to the delight of the Croatian supporters.
The 24-year-old opened the javelin competition with a season’s best of 65.82m. Canada’s Liz Gleadle closed in on Kolak’s lead with a season’s best of 63.77m in round two, but Kolak responded in the following round with 66.42m.
Kolak’s winning mark was the third-best throw of her career and her longest since July 2017, the month in which she set a national record of 68.43m.
Phyllis Francis finished comfortably ahead of the rest of the field in the women’s 400m, clocking 51.02 with Allyson Felix placing second in 51.67.
Mike Rodgers stopped the clock at 10.04 to win a 100m race in which world champion Justin Gatlin pulled up injured. Sharika Nelvis got the better of US compatriot Christina Clemons to win the women’s 100m hurdles, 12.73 to 12.82. (IAAF)