At the Norwegian championships in Byrkjelo on Sunday (14), reigning World and two-time Olympic Javelin champion Andreas Thorkildsen sent his spear out to 90.61m.

Already a prodigious favourite to win the IAAF World Championships title in Daegu, Korea (27 Aug to 4 Sep), the 29-year-old double European champion who already led the world season list thanks to his 88.43m victory in the Samsung Diamond League in Stockholm on 29 July, produced his 90m blast in the third round. This was his third furthest ever throw and his eighth 90m career competition.

Thorkildsen had begun the six rounds with two fouls, and followed his mammoth throw with 85.55 in the fourth and 84.85 in the fifth before passing his remaining effort.

Elsewhere at the championships which ran from 12 to 14 August, Saidy Ndure took the men’s 100m title in 10.29 sec (-0.8 m/s wind), whilst Mona Christine Holm established a new national record with 70.43m in the women’s Hammer Throw. There was also a national junior mark established by Isabelle Pedersen Pedersen in the women’s 100m Hurdles, 13.21 sec (-0.4).

Chris Turner for the IAAF