RAMONA, Okla. — Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania broke a world record in the discus throw that had stood since 1986 Sunday at the Oklahoma Throwing Series competition.
Alekna's throw of 243 feet 11 inches (74.35 meters) eclipsed the mark of 243 feet (74.08 meters) set by German Jurgen Schult on June 6, 1986. Alekna's throw was originally measured at 244 -1 (74.41), but was later revised, according to the World Athletics Championships. The file is subject to ratification.
Alekna, 21, a junior at the University of California, has won two medals at the world outdoor championships. He captured a silver medal at the 2022 worlds in Oregon and a bronze last summer in Hungary.
His great throw moved his father, Virgilijus, to third place on the race list. Virgilijus Alekna had a score of 242-4 (73.88) in 2000.
Mykolas Alekna's big day comes one day after Cuba's Yaimé Pérez recorded the longest women's discus throw since 1989 with 239-9 (73.09).
