Mickle to Compete in Diamond League Opener

Western Australian Institute of Sport javelin thrower Kim Mickle will compete at the Doha Diamond League meet on May 9 in her first overseas competition for 2014.

Having enjoyed a domestic season that saw the 29 year-old break a long standing Australian record, and win a ninth national title, Mickle will now venture overseas for competition for the first time since claiming a world championship silver medal at last year’s titles in Moscow (in August).

Mickle is guaranteed world class opposition, with Olympic medallist Linda Stahl (Germany) and current Commonwealth champion Sunette Viljoen (South Africa) both listed to compete in the first Diamond League event for 2014.

“We are keeping the tradition of bringing on elite athletes in Doha alive and we respect our commitment for high quality standards in every field of this great one-day event,” said Dahlan Al Hamad, president of the Qatar Athletics Association. “Introducing a roster like that is an essential prerequisite for yet another successful Doha Diamond League meeting.

In all, the Doha Diamond League event will capture 25 current or former world champions as well as 10 Olympic champions in a world class field.

The Diamond League also takes in meets at Shanghai (18 May) and Eugene, USA (31 May) in a busy first month schedule.