Recently updated on November 7th, 2020 at 08:36 pm
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi has set a new shot put national record during the 2019 IAAF Hammer Throw Challenge held at the Estádio do Centro Nacional de Desenvolvimento do Atletismo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, a 2018 Commonwealth silver medal winner, produced a throw of 21.77 meters to clinch gold at the 35th Grande Prêmio Brasil Caixa de Atletismo to beat the previous national record of 21.76 meters set by Stephen Mozia at the Grand Prix in Czech Republic three years ago.
Enekwechi is now the second in Africa’s shot put all time record behind South Africa’s Janus Robberts 2001 throw of 21.97 meters.
The 14th ranked Nigerian stunned the home crowd as he defeated world number 3 and crowd favorite, Brazilian Darlan Romani who came second. Curtis Jensen from USA was third with 20.40 meters.
Darlan Romani was leading with a throw of 21.62 meters from round two before New York-born Enekwechi bettered his personal best by 49 centimeters in the third round to take the lead. Romani improved to 21.69 meters on his final throw, but it was not enough win the gold medal.
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi won the shot put title at the 2018 African championships in Asaba and was selected to represent Africa at the Ostrava Continental Cup.
