HEADING INTO the season finale, there were no blemishes on Valarie Allman’s ’24 campaign. And the Olympic champion made sure to keep it that way, wrapping up an undefeated season with her fourth straight DL discus title.
The exuberant American opened with 218-1 (66.47) to take the early lead. Paris bronze medalist Sandra Elkasević reached 213-7 (65.10), which would remain her farthest throw of the evening, ultimately good for 4th.
Allman was briefly shunted back to 2nd when Olympic silver medalist Bin Feng produced a 220-1 (67.08) in the next round. Allman responded in the third rotation with 224-7 (68.47), a mark that would hold up for the win.
Yaimé Pérez, who set the world lead of 239-9 (73.09) back in April, had her best mark of the day in the final frame with a 219-8 (66.96), but she remained in 3rd.
Feng then improved to 221-5 (67.49), still almost a meter back of the leader.
Allman’s final 3 throws were unspectacular, but then they didn’t need to be. “I really dreamed of a season like this, I really didn’t think it would be possible to have an undefeated season,” she said. “I just fought really hard and I have such an amazing team and we just made the most of every opportunity.”
Results
1. Valarie Allman (US) 224-7 (68.47) (218-1, 197-8, 224-7, 211-11, f, 209-0) (66.47, 60.25, 68.47, 64.59, f, 63.71); 2. Bin Feng (Chn) 221-5 (67.49) (f, 220-1, 217-1, 214-5, 216-8, 221-5) (f, 67.08, 66.18, 65.37, 66.04, 67.49); 3. Yaimé Pérez (Cub) 219-8 (66.96); 4. Sandra Elkasević (Cro) 213-7 (65.10); 5. Jorinde Van Klinken (Neth) 211-3 (64.38); 6. Kristin Pudenz (Ger) 189-5 (57.74).