Agafonov throws personal record

Friday, April 20, 2007

When Egor Agafonov tossed the winning throw in Thursday’s Kansas Relays hammer throw competition, his biggest fan was there to watch.

Men’s basketball player Sasha Kaun sat in the stands, a Russian flag draped over his shoulders. He also held a handmade sign that, roughly translated from Russian, meant, “Go Russia. Egor is champion.”

Photo by Amanda Sellers

Egor Agafonov, Togliatti Russia junior, turns in preparation to release the ball during the hammer throw competition outside Memorial Stadium Thursday afternoon. Agafonov finished first with his longest throw of 69.3 meters. The Kansas relays will continue with events today and Saturday.

“I love the kid,” Kaun said after Agafonov wrapped up the victory. “I’m proud of what he’s been doing.”

He certainly had reason to be happy for his fellow Russian. Agafonov’s winning throw, 227-05 feet, was the fourth furthest toss in the nation this year. It was also the second furthest winning toss in relays history.

“I think it was pretty good,” Agafonov said. “It’s my PR (personal record) this year.”

nutgraf

It was Agafonov’s third win in three tries this season. He won the hammer at his two previous meets — the Texas Relays and John Jacobs Invitational.

The winning toss came on his third and final throw of the preliminary competition that advanced him to the finals. Agafonov came close to that mark again in the finals, with a throw of 227-03 feet.

It was Agafonov’s third win in three tries this season. He won the hammer at his two previous meets — the Texas Relays and John Jacobs Invitational.

Even with the success, his coach Andy Kokhanovsky, said there was still much for Agafonov to improve on.

“Nobody’s perfect,” Kokhanovsky said. “He’s got a lot to get better at. It all comes down to mental and physical preparation.”

Still, based on his performance Thursday, it was hard to find much to critique. Agafonov won the event by more than 20 feet. His closest competitor was Chris Rohr, who was competing unattached from Missouri, who had a best throw of 207-02 feet.

After his final throw, Aganfonov cracked a smile as Kaun approached him. The two friends, who have known each other for two years, laughed as they posed for a photo with the poster and flag.

“All the guys I wanted to watch me were here,” he said.

Kansan senior sportswriter Ryan Schneider can be contacted at rschneider@kansan.com.

—Edited by Mark Vierthaler

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