Israel gets third in Rakvere...

RAKVERE, Estonia--Only two days removed from a disappointing ninth place finish at the European Championships, Estonia's Märt Israel (left/photo by Paul Merca), a former Washington Husky, finished third in the discus in the Bigbank Kuldliiga meeting at Rakvere Stadium.

Israel took the early lead in the competition with his first round throw of 205-3 (62.57m), then was overtaken by eventual winner and training partner Gerd Kanter of Estonia, who threw 219-3 (66.82m), and Bogdan Pischalnikov of Russia, who spun the platter 205-11 (62.77).

Israel tried to close the gap on the Russian, hitting his best throw of 205-9 (62.72m) in the sixth and final round, falling short of Pischalnikov by a mere five centimeters.

The headline of the meet was the return of 2004 Olympic 100 meter champion Justin Gatlin after a four-year doping suspension.

Gatlin won the 100 meter dash in a modest 10.24 over former Arkansas standout J-Mee Samuels, who ran 10.31.

Courtesy of Estonian television, here is video of Gatlin's race:



Complete results of the Bigbank Kuldliiga meeting can be accessed here.