Last Worlds Warm-up for Mickle at London Diamond League

Published On: 23 July 2015

WAIS athlete Kim Mickle will compete at this weekend’s London Diamond League in her final major hit-out before this year’s World Championships.

Mickle has taken in the Shanghai and Paris events in 2015, medalling at both and will now get a last look at her main rivals in the women’s javelin before this year’s IAAF titles in Beijing.

Olympic champion Barbora Spotakova (CZE) and current 2015 world lead Sunette Viljoen (RSA) will both compete in a high quality field that also includes local favourite Goldie Sayers (GB).

Mickle told InsideWAIS recently that she would return to Perth after London, to utilise the WAIS High Performance Service Centre and the surrounds of home comforts as she looks to build on a 2013 World Championships campaign that netted silver and a then personal best throw in Moscow.

“When you travel, it’s just hard to get what you need, so when I come home and I know what I’ve got, it’s just such a better prep. That’s our plan for this year,” she said.

“I reckon if this new facility wasn’t here, I probably would’ve stayed away (overseas).

Whilst the opportunity to get a good look at her rivals and build competition form is vital in her campaign, Mickle also said being based in Perth avoided the pressures of living out of a suitcase.

“From the end of July through to mid August, I’ll be home again. And that’s the important bit, me coming home for those three weeks before a major, because in years prior, I tended to get really stale by the major champs because I’d been away from home for so long and away from my routine.

Whilst the performance elements are instrumental, Mickle said it was also the familiarity of structure.

“It’s things like having my food, my shopping, my gym, knowing everything, what I’ve got – the track, the facilities that are open. When you travel, it’s just hard to get what you need, so when I come home and I know what I’ve got, it’s just a better prep. That’s our aim.”

The women’s javelin at the 2015 London Diamond League will take place on Saturday night Perth time, scheduled for a 10.45pm start.