Discus thrower Vikas Gowda took his third title on the trot in the US but could not reproduce last Thursday's form at the John Jacobs invitational meet at Norman, Oklahoma, on Saturday.
Having touched a National record of 66.28m just two days earlier at the same venue that helped him win the title and also go to the top of the world charts for the season, Gowda could have been expected to be in the 65-66m region.
But he settled for 64.50m while still beating the field by a fair margin — he had a series of 61.10, foul, 61.80, 58.67, 61.15 and 64.50.
Six career marks
Gowda has six career marks over 64.68 including his national record. He had opened the season with a win at Mesa, Arizona, with a 63.05m.
American Ian Waltz, who was fifth at the 2005 World championships, took the second place at 62.40m, while Russ Winger, also of the US, came third at 61.98m.
Gowda continues to top the world lists with his 66.28, followed by Yennifer Frank Casanas of Spain (66.25), Jorge Fernandez of Cuba (66.05), Jason Morgan of Jamaica (65.61) and Winger (65.46).
The top discus throwers of the world, including Beijing Olympics champion Gerd Kanter of Estonia, reigning world champion Robert Harting of Germany, last year's leader Zoltan Kovago of Hungary (69.50) and two-time Olympic champion Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania, are yet to begin their outdoor season.
