Denzel Comenentia sets Drake Relays record in men's hammer throw

Denzel Comenentia of the Netherlands was as surprised as anyone that he now owns a Drake Relays record.

The former Georgia Bulldog made his last throw of the hammer throw invitational Thursday a special one, with his toss of 76.80 meters, or 252 feet, knocking four-time United States national champion and American record holder Rudy Winkler off the record books. Comenentia's throw was just five inches ahead of the mark of 251-7 set by Winkler last year.

"It took me five throws to find it, but I was able to find something in that last throw," Comenentia said. "Rudy Winkler is an amazing thrower so to beat his record this early in the season is a sign of what's coming. I think my coach can be satisfied with that."

Winkler was a late scratch from the event, part of a lineup of javelin, hammer and seated throws billed as the Thursday Night Throwdown.

Comenentia owned a small lead after his third throw of 74.77 meters, or 245-3, after his third effort. He left no doubt who would win with his final throw, which was his second best of the season and only 1.21 meters behind his all-time best of 78.01 set at Tucson, Ariz., a year ago,

"It was windy and chilly. It was supposed to be nice and 70s," he said. "It's not always going to be perfect conditions."

Men's javelin invitational

Arthur Petersen of Team Sparta Denmark needed a great final throw to secure the victory. The Dane based in Lincoln, Neb., uncorked a throw of 79.73 meters, or 261 feet, 7 inches, to claim his second Relays title in three years. His final throw topped the second-round effort of 77.48 by American Ethan Dabbs.

"My series wasn't the best. It was like a roller coaster ride," Petersen said. "It was a little bit difficult conditions becuase the wind was a bit across from the front."

Petersen eclipsed his best of 76.86 set in Oklahoma two weeks ago in worse conditions. He said he eyed the Drake Relays as an opportunity to gain more World Athletics Rankings points, with the big goal the Paris Olympics. The automatic standard for Olympics qualifying is 85.50 meters.

"I feel like now I'm almost there," Petersen said. "I just need to get a few more meets. I have a lot of good teammates that help push me every day. I feel I am in the right place right now."

Women's hammer throw invitational

Former Notre Dame athlete Rachel Tanczos continued her ascension in this event with a victory Thursday. Her third throw of 69.26 meters, or 227 feet, 3 inches, was good enough to top Stamatia Scarvelis' top effort of 67.73 meters.

And to think Tanczos never made an NCAA final while competing for the Fighting Irish.

"The hammer didn't match up," said Tanczos, a second-year professional. "I see myself as a little bit of an underdog. Even the progress I've made in the past couple years is a big confidence boost."

Tanczos' career-best throw is 73.87 set in June of 2023 so conditions were not ideal.

"I had good pieces of throws," she said. "I didn't put one together that I loved."

America is arguably the best in the world in the hammer throw, with Janee' Kassanavoid, Brooke Andersen and DeAnna Price holding down the second, third and fourth spots in the world rankings. Before Thursday, Tanczos was 45th. She knows there is a great challenge to get her ticket punched to Paris.

"It's wild to think about where women's hammer is in the U.S. right now, where some of these women are at," Tanczos said. "I have to be on my 'A' game when it counts. I see that as motivation."

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Denzel Comenentia sets Drake Relays record in men's hammer throw