Mickle Fires Up in Adelaide

Published On: 16 February 2014


WAIS javelin star Kim Mickle started her 2014 campaign in fine style, throwing 66.12m for victory at the Adelaide Track Classic last weekend.

The competition – held in difficult and blustery conditions – was sparked to life when Kathryn Mitchell launched a huge throw of 66.10m to move herself to third on the alltime list of Australian female javelin throwers, and setting a Commonwealth Games A-Qualifying standard.


Nine-times national champion Kim Mickle responded in kind by hurling the spear 66.12m in the third round to record her own Commonwealth Games A Qualifier and ultimately take the win.  All four of Mickle’s legal throws bettered the A Qualifying standard. 

 

Kelsey-Lee Roberts of the ACT also recorded three B Qualifiers for Glasgow, with her best a fourth round throw of 55.02m to take third behind Mickle and Mitchell. 

Mickle said having world class competition in Australia was helping to push her to greater performances.

 

“I literally would have been happy with an opener in the 60’s and when Kathryn unleashed with a 66 that just fired me up,” said Mickle. “I just said before, how that definitely would not have happened if it wasn’t for Kathryn.  So I am just so lucky to have people in our country that we push each other to our best at every single track classic. 

“I mean it’s February now, so there’s no way we should be throwing this far now.  Like, it’s not the time to throw big but we are because we’re together.  So it’s just absolutely amazing. 

 

“Luckily in this wind we both nailed one.  Like, this wind is probably one of the hardest winds I’ve ever thrown in,” Mickle added.  “Yet we’ve just thrown the best we’ve ever thrown, so that just shows where we’re both at.” 

Kathryn said her focus is squarely on the Commonwealth Games so getting an early A standard was a positive. 

“We’re in a good position to train through the domestic season and obviously you hope you get a good throw out and satisfy the selection, but the work is building up to Glasgow so for the training I’ve been doing I’m in a good position,” Mitchell said.  

 

“I was a bit the same (as Mickle), I didn’t really know what to expect and I thought definitely to tick off the A Qualifier would be good and just solidify the start of the season, so I’ve done that.” 


– with Athletics Australia