Western Australian javelin thrower Kim Mickle almost pulled off the upset of the year, akin to Sabine Lasicki’s defeat of Serena Williams, at the Paris Diamond League meeting at Saint Denis on Saturday July 6.
While the international sporting news headlines emanated out of the country roads of France and the ending of one of world sport’s longest droughts at a tennis tournament in England, Mickle went within 39 centimetres of beating Germany’s Christine Obergfall with a throw of 64.35 metres.
Obergfall, who threw 64.74 metres, has been unbeaten this season. Her dominance on the Diamond League tour is not unlike that of Serena Williams, until Wimbledon.
Australia’s other female javelin thrower, Kathryn Mitchell, rounded out a great day for Australia by finishing fourth with a throw of 60.86metres.
Not since perhaps the days of high jumpers Vanessa Brown and Christine Stanton has Australia had two world class competitors in a field event.
The timing of Mickle’s performance could not have been better, with the world championships in Moscow looming in August and Australia’s current stocks as low as they have been for a number of years, leaving our chances of medals concerning.
Reigning world and Olympic Champion Sally Pearson is slowly coming back to form after a hamstring injury early in the year that has hampered her preparation and robbed her of race fitness.
Her two recent outings in Ostrava and Birmingham saw her clock 12.67 and 12.73 respectively; well down on the blistering times she was setting this time last year.
An encouraging sign is that in her attempt to run faster she has not compromised her picture perfect technique, so the coming weeks should see her fitness and speed endurance increase to lower those times.
Her main rival, Dawn Harper – who nearly stole the Olympic gold from Pearson’s clutches last year – has lost none of her 2012 form and has notched up four Diamond League wins over quality fields.
However, Harper may not be Pearson’s greatest threat to her retaining the world title – there is a new kid on the block.
American College student Brianna Rollins ran a blistering 12.26 seconds at the US trials in Des Moine on June 23. Not only did she break Gail Devers’ long standing American record, it was the fastest time in the world for 21 years, eclipsing Pearson’s personal best of 12.29 set in Berlin in 2011.
Rollins and Pearson will clash for the first time at the Monaco Grand Prix on July 19 in a tantalising rehearsal for Moscow. That race will be the litmus test for Pearson as to whether she is a legitimate chance of defending her world title.
Australia’s other great hope, Olympic silver medallist Mitchell Watt, has withdrawn from the world championships, citing ongoing ankle an achilles tendon issues.
The 14th IAAF World Championships will be held in Moscow, August 10-18.
Jocelyn McLennan
Roar Guru
Yes good point. adn that is why I used the word "perhaps".... but I am referring to competing at the same time against each other at the highest of international competitions ...Lou followed Jo in consecutive championships but did not have perform to be be on the same world podium at the same time as Kathryn and Kim do now and like Christine and Vanessa did.
Cam Baker
Roar Rookie
"Not since perhaps the days of high jumpers Vanessa Brown and Christine Stanton has Australia had two world class competitors in a field event." I asume you are talking about females and have forgotten about Joanna Stone and Louise McPaul?
Jocelyn McLennan
Roar Guru
Oops yep typo...good point!...the others are all there abouts as semi finalists but have not put in any performances recently to asses where their form is at.....Dani Samuels could come from nowhere again as she did in Berlin....traditionally for all athletes the world champs following an Olympics is lacklustre as the Olympics has been the pinacle and either motivation or injuries from a very hard year prior raise thier head as in Sally's case. Even Usain Bolt has admitted he is struggling this season after being "lazy" during the winter following the Olympics. The last few lead up events before Moscow will let us know what form everyone is in. I am REALLY looking forward to Sallys' race againgst Rollins in Monaco.Sally is such a big time event performer she could pull out a big one.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I think you mean the ladies threw in the 64s, not the 84s, right? Do you really think Sally can get back to near her best in time for World Champs? And didn't she run 12.28 at the Olympics, i nto a rainy headwind? Who esle do we have? - How is Steve Solomon going? - Collis Birmingham and Ryan Gregson are possible finalists in the 5km and 1500 respectively - Bannister in the jav? Wruck in the discus? - in the women's, I can see some semi finalists like Breen, Buckman etc. What about Dani Samuels? - When is Jake Stein getting into Seniors? He must be 20-odd by now.