Powell Achieves Best Mark--Sort Of

KLAGSHAMN, Sweden — American John Powell achieved the longest throw in the discus this year at 236 feet 6 inches Friday, but the mark must be accompanied by an asterisk.

Local rules allow competitors to throw in any direction, which enables them to take best advantage of the heavy sea winds.

Powell achieved the mark at the same track in southern Sweden where Swede Stefan Fernholm set the previous best mark of the year, 229 feet, last month.

Swede Ricky Bruch, a world record-holder in the early 1970s, was second at 204-7.