All Smiles as Mighty Mickle Takes Silver
WAIS athlete and eight-time national javelin champion Kim Mickle has closed the Australian Flame campaign at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow in stunning style by winning silver in the women’s final with a new personal best.
Mickle earned her position on the podium with a huge new personal best of 66.60m, just 20 centimetres shy of the Australian record. In a fantastic result for Australia, Mickle was joined in the round-of-12 final by compatriot Kathryn Mitchell (Vic), who placed fifth with a season best throw of 63.77m.
Similarly to the qualifying round on Friday, where Mickle had thrown a personal best of 65.73m to advance, Mickle again opened her account with a smaller than usual 60.43m before launching a second round then personal best of 66.25m, that saw the 28 year-old move into the gold medal position.
She remained in pole position until eventual winner Christina Obergfoll (GER, first, 69.05m) clinched the lead in the following round, with Mickle then going on to throw 64.18m, 64.29m, a foul and her best mark to close out yet another consistent series.
Local hero Maria Abukumova (RUS) won bronze with a 65.09m throw, having set the best mark in qualifying on Friday.
Mickle’s World Championship efforts not only eradicates the disappointment of her London 2012 Olympic Games campaign but also betters her outstanding sixth place finish from the IAAF World Championships two years ago in Daegu (KOR).
“I don’t even know what to say. I can’t believe that actually happened,” a delighted Mickle said. “I enjoyed every moment of it. It was the scariest and funniest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It’s a dream come true,” said the Australian Flame vice captain.
Mickle admitted the Australian record continues to be a driving motivator after coming so close to capturing it.
“On that last throw the Russians got behind me and I boomed the hell out of it. I almost got the Aussie record but hey that gives me something to do next year. There is still more there and it is such an exciting time for me.”
“This is redemption. It keeps popping into my mind how bad last year was, and this is the complete flip. It shows that you can’t let yourself get down in the dumps you just use it as fuel and capitalise on it the next year.”
Mickle’s silver medal sees her sit alongside Joanna Stone as the only Australian females to win a medal in the women’s javelin at the IAAF World Championships. It caps off a huge year for the Commonwealth Games silver medallist that includes a podium finish each and every time she has competed.
Mitchell was equally amazing, with her 63.77m season best throw for 5th seeing her rocket to the second best ever performance by an Australian woman in the women’s javelin at the IAAF World Championships. Throwing her best mark with her first attempt, Mitchell’s series also included two fouls, and legal marks of 62.19m, 60.34m and 62.23m.
“It was so nice to open my series the way I did. I knew that I needed to do that to make sure that I put a little bit of pressure on and challenge for the next three throws. The performance is where I am at this year, and it was great to get on out there and have the chance to finish in the top-eight,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell also applauded Mickle on her performance.
“Kim’s throws were just amazing, her series was awesome. Two personal bests, and if you can find a better preparation and execution I will be surprised. She was totally focused, and so relaxed so it was great to watch. It was great to keep each other entertained out there,” Mitchell said.
-AthleticsAustralia