Mickle Earns Ninth Podium Finish of the Year

WA Institute of Sport javelin thrower Kim Mickle has finished third at the Spitzen Leichathletik competition in Lucerne with a best throw of 62.38m.

The national champion registered four throws over 61m as she secured a ninth podium finish from nine competition starts in 2013.

The build up continues what has been a promising preparation for August’s World Championships for Mickle with a final block of training planned around one last event in London, aimed at having the Commonwealth Games medallist in career best form for this year’s peak competition.

Mickle was pleased with her consistency but even happier in the knowledge that her series of throws would have earned her an automatic qualification into the final of a world championship event.

“It was another good series. The first two throws were like a shake out and then I got my rhythm. I didn’t nail any of them but I was still very consistent at the 61 and 62 metre marks,” Mickle said.

“After this competition I was always going to go back into another block of hard work before Moscow as that has always been the priority. I couldn’t have asked for a better preparation though. Every one of those throws would have got me into the final so it’s exciting.”

The Lucerne title was claimed by Olympic bronze medallist Linda Stahl of Germany, who threw 65.24m, whilst fellow Australian Kathryn Mitchell recorded a best throw of 61.11m for sixth place.

– with Athletics Australia