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≡ THE RAMONA WINDS ≡
It was blowing out in Ramona, Oklahoma, the favorite wind tunnel for discus throwers from around the world on Thursday at the Oklahoma Throws World Invitational on Thursday!
After Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna got a world record 75.56 m (247-11) heave in 2025, there was great anticipation for 2026. And it was wild.
In the men’s competition, the “Lefty” event was won by American Reggie Jagers, who got his no. 2 throw ever at 69.09 m (226-8) to win. Then came the main men’s event, with Paris 2024 bronze winner Matt Denny (AUS) reaching 72.01 m (236-3) on his opening throw.
German Steven Richter reached 69.90 m (229-4), a lifetime best in round one, but he was just warming up. He got another PR in round two at 70.06 m (229-10) and then exploded in round three to take the lead at 74.00 m (242-09) to move to no. 4 all-time!
In the meantime, U.S. Olympian Sam Mattis bombed a 72.45 m (237-8) throw in the second round to briefly take the lead (until Richter’s third-round throw). The 72.45 m broke the long-standing American Record of 72.34 m (237-4) by Ben Plucknett from 1981!
Richter had another enormous throw of 73.96 m (242-8) in round four, so he was leading Mattis and Denny with two rounds left.
Denny had other ideas and sent a massive fifth-round throw out to 74.04 m (242-11) and regained the lead with the no. 7 throw in history!
In the sixth round, 2022 World Champion Kristjan Ceh (SLO) – who had been the world leader coming in with another win at Ramona on 29 March – finally got loose and reached 72.61 m (238-2) to move into third and pass Mattis.
That’s how they finished, with Olympic champ Roje Stona (JAM) fifth at 70.66 m (231-10) and 2025 Worlds bronzer Alex Rose (SAM) sixth at 70.43 m (231-1). This was reportedly the first competition ever with six men past 70 m (229-8).
Denny and Richter had the seventh and eighth throws in history over 74 m (242-9). Of the top 10 throws in history, eight have come at Ramona, in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
The women’s competition made news too, as Dutch star Jorinde van Klinken, the 2025 Worlds runner-up, reached 68.98 m (226-3) in round four to win and she had two more over 68 m. Countrywomen Alida van Daalen got a lifetime best at 67.99 m (223-0), an improvement of more than five feet!
In sixth was Olympic and World Champion Valarie Sion (nee Allman) of the U.S., who managed 65.18 m (213-10) in round three with five other fouls, going got the big one every time. It was Sion’s first loss after 30 straight wins, dating back to 1 September 2023.
The meet continues with more discus events on Saturday and Sunday!
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