OLDEST MEN'S MARK FALLS TO ALEKNA

Lithuanian’s 74.35m eclipses Schult’s 1986 discus record, relegates dad to third best

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Mykolas Alekna broke the longest-standing world record in men's athletics on April 14, producing a mammoth 74.35m discus throw to shatter the nearly 38-year-old previous mark.

The 21-year-old Lithuanian, a silver medallist at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene and bronze medallist at the 2023 Budapest World Championships, broke the record at the Oklahoma Throws Series World Invitational.

The low-key event in the Midwest of the United States is dedicated only for throwing field events. Alekna's record-breaking throw came on his fifth attempt.

The mark is subject to the usual ratification procedures, World Athletics said.

The record betters Jurgen Schult's mark of 74.08m set on June 6, 1986, while representing East Germany.

Until April 14, Schult's mark had been the oldest men's world record in athletics, eclipsing the 25 years and 79 days held by Jesse Owens for the long jump.

The oldest track world record is the women's 800m by Czech Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983.

Alekna's heroics came just a day after Yaime Perez of Cuba recorded a 73.09m in Ramona for the longest women's discus throw since 1989.