Germany enjoy field events success on opening day of Berlin IPC Athletics Grand Prix

Niko Kappel was one of several victors for hosts Germany ©Getty Images

Russia’s Vladimir Sviridov broke his own shot put world record at the Friedrich Ludwig Jahn Sportpark on the opening day of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics Grand Prix but hosts Germany enjoyed plenty of success in Berlin.

The world champion threw 15.21 metres in the F35/36 shot put event to add another 48 centimetres on to his previous world record 14.73m, claiming victory ahead of Germany’s Sebastien Dietz, who recorded a throw of 13.92 to finish second.

Germany enjoyed plenty of success in the throwing events as world number one Niko Kappel threw 11.77m to win the F41 shot put, with Daniel Storch then claiming the F20 shot title after throwing 11.46m.

Double European champion Daniel Scheil produced a world leading effort of 26.96m to win the F32 to 34 javelin for the hosts, however there was disappointment for Frances Herrmann in the F34 women’s javelin event as Finland’s Marjann Heikkinen secured victory ahead of the world number one, throwing 16.72m.

Russia’s Aida Bronskaia was clear of the competition in the women’s F36/40/41 event with 19.69m, her nearest challenger Zara Baars of The Netherlands finishing well back on 14.75m.

On a day where the field events predominately took centre stage it was no surprise to see Britain’s world champion Aled Davies earning yet another Grand Prix title as he threw 14.88m to win the F42 shot put ahead of Germany’s Frank Tinnemeier, whose best distance was 13.44m.

Lithuania’s Ramunas Verbavicius and Russia’s Sofia Oksem secured comfortable victories.

Verbavicius threw 42.08m to win the men’s F55 javelin event, four metres clear of his nearest competitor, while world champion Oksem produced a world leading throw of 42.08m to win the women’s discus F12 class.

Britain's Aled Davies continued his superb form with victory in the shot put in Berlin ©Getty Images

Three medal events were held on the track on the opening day of the Grand Prix, with Aleksandr Kostin and Elena Pautova earning gold for Russia.

Kostin, a world silver medallist, claimed the T13 1500m in 4min 12.02sec with compatriot Fedor Rudakov second in 4:13.59.

World and Paralympic champion Pautova secured gold, finishing over 11 seconds clear of Colombia’s Buitrago Arango in the T11/T12 class, setting world leading mark of 4:45.11.

The final medal race on the track saw Poland’s Daniel Pek fight off the competition in the men’s T20 1500m, clinching victory in 4:02.95.

The Grand Prix will feature several of the world’s best sprinters over the coming days and Paralympic champions Evgenii Shvetcov of Russia, Toni Piispanen of Finland and T42 world record holder Martina Caironi all progressed comfortably to the finals, winning their respective heats.