Mickle’s Road Leads to Rome

WAIS javelin thrower Kim Mickle will tonight (early Friday morning Perth time) compete at the Rome Diamond League in the fourth instalment of the global athletics series.

Mickle is making her second appearance of the 2014 Diamond League series, after last month throwing 65.36m in the opening series meet in Doha.

After breaking the Australian national record earlier this year, Mickle currently holds the 2014 world lead throw for women’s javelin, courtesy of her 66.83m throw at Melbourne’s Albert Park in March.

The reigning WAIS Athlete of the Year will be joined in the Eternal City by Australian Olympic champion hurdler Sally Pearson – who is competing internationally for this first time in 2014.

The women’s javelin in Rome, will be a keenly fought contest, with Czech Republic star and reigning Olympic champion Barbora Spotakova – boasting a personal best of 72.28m – amongst a field that also contains London Olympic bronze medallist Linda Stahl of Germany and world class performers; Martina Ratej (SLO), Vira Rebryk (UKR) and Kara Patterson (USA) who all hold personal bests at similar range to Mickle.

In the Diamond League standings, Ratej currently leads on four points ahead of Mickle on two. A podium finish for Mickle will guarantee she remains in the top three, whilst a debut Diamond League win, would catapult the popular West Australian to the top of the standings after the second round of the women’s javelin*.

WAIS pole vault star Liz Parnov is listed to compete in the sixth round of the Diamond League on June 14 in New York. Parnov last weekend set a season’s best 4.40m at a local competition meet in Perth. Parnov like Mickle, is selected for this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

* Women’s javelin is held only at specific Diamond League meets