Mickle Competes Against the Best in Paris

WAIS javelin thrower Kim Mickle competed at the Paris Diamond League meet last Friday, throwing against the world’s best as she continues her preparations for the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

The Commonwealth Games silver medallist finished fifth in the women’s javelin throw thanks to a second round 61.97m effort after an opening foul. Her series also boasted throws of 61.76m and 60.17m.

Mickle has recently returned home after a stint based in Cologne (GER) with coach Grant Ward as she continues her build towards the IAAF world championships, with the Paris result yet another step towards the main event this August.

“I had some good throws and I am rapt with that.” Mickle said.

“The world record holder Spotakova gave me some pointers, she said that in the warm-up I look fantastic but in comps (sic) I just rush it too much, she said if I can convert the technique I could throw as far as her.”

“It means so much to hear that from her.”

German Christina Obergfoll won the event with a world lead and meet record 68.01m despite, ironically, experiencing four fouls of her own.

In the thrower’s cage, national discus record holder Benn Harradine continued his strong showing on the European circuit with a 64.98m best mark for 5th at his first Diamond League outing this year.Continuing to consistently throw well over 60 metres in a competition environment, Harradine’s first round monster was followed by 64.40m, 61.01m, 61.78m, a foul and 63.83m.

“It wasn’t a bad effort,” Harradine said.

“I felt I left a little something in my backpack so to speak, but I’m happy that my level of throwing continues to be solid.”

“To be out there in such a big stadium in a great arena, it’s just fantastic.”

Robert Harting (GER) won the event after throwing 67.32m. His performance sees him take back the Diamond League lead from Estonian Gerd Kanter who tonight came third (67.24m).

World indoor and Commonwealth champion Fabrice Lapierre rounded out the Australian start list in the men’s long jump placing 8th with 7.97m (w: -1.0) in the second round.

The current world leader Mitchell Watt was originally set to join Lapierre in the French capital but withdrew as a precautionary measure after bruising his heel at a long jump meet in Bad Langensalza (GER) last week.

“It’s nothing major at all, he just doesn’t want to take any chances before the world championships,” Eric Hollingsworth, Athletics Australia High Performance Manager, said.

“He still plans to jump in Stockholm and London and we look forward to seeing him there.”

One would suspect it was a nervous event to watch for Watt as Olympic champion Irving Saladino(PAN) soared 8.40m (w: +0.2) to threaten his number one ranking and win. Briton Chris Tomlinson was runner-up with a national record 8.35m (w: +0.9).

Bringing the crowd to its feet in the final event was 100m and 200m world record holder Usain Bolt. Facing off with local hero Christophe Lemaitre (second, 20.21) in the 200m, Bolt, despite running his slowest time since 2009 with 20.03 (w: -0.6), didn’t disappoint as he pulled up to cross the line comfortably first.

The Samsung Diamond League now moves to Birmingham (GBR) on Sunday, July 10, where Sally Pearson will compete in the 100m hurdles after a scintillating win in Lausanne, while Dani Samuels will go in the discus throw.

Pearson beat Kellie Wells, the fastest hurdler in the world this year and America’s number one, in her opening European competition last week. With a tailwind behind her, Pearson clocked12.47 to beat Wells into sixth place and Danielle Carruthers (USA) into second.

The meeting at Alexander Stadium will open with the women’s discus throw, in which Samuels will face Olympic champion Stephanie Brown-Trafton (USA), her compatriot Aretha Thurmond and German athlete Nadine Muller.

Samuels has only competed once outside of Australia since setting her season’s best of 62.20m in Perth. At the Samsung Diamond League in Shaghai (CHN) she finished third (61.98m) behind Sandra Perkovic (CRO) and Yanfeng Li (CHN) and neither is in Birmingham.

The penultimate event of the evening will be the men’s 5000m in which Craig Mottram and Collis Birmingham will race. Both have raced across the distance only once this year at the IAAF Melbourne Track Classic, and both have their sights firmly set on the world championships qualifying mark.

Tamsyn Manou will round out the Australians in action when she competes in the 800m, an additional event on the timetable, whilst the international star start list includes Asafa Powell (JAM) and Sanya Richards-Ross (USA), Reese Hoffa (USA),Teddy Tamgho (FRA) and Phillips Idowu (GBR).

 -Athletics Australia