Season Best for Mickle in Diamond League Throw

WAIS javelin thrower Kim Mickle has taken fifth place at the London Diamond League meet in Crystal Palace over the weekend.

Mickle opened with a throw of 60.74m and then immediately improved to 62.36m, a season’s best, albeit Mickle still has her throw of 64.12m from last month to be ratified by the IAAF.

The finalist from last year’s World Championships was unable to further improve her distance, bowing out with a final round effort of 60.58m.

Mickle believes the opportunity to throw in wet and wintery conditions in London, that may well be replicated at the Olympics was a good experience to have.

“For the conditions that were out there, there wasn’t a great wind and a bit of rain, I threw well, it’s nice and consistent of where I want to be,” she said.

“When the rain came through I found it quite difficult but it was good to get one out in the rain as we’re probably going to kop that again for the Olympics.”

“Put me in a comp and I want to throw my best. Out there it was definitely hard work and when the rain came it put a lot of people off, but the vibe out there was fantastic. Give me three weeks to freshen up it should be great.”

Fellow Australian competitor Kathryn Mitchell opened with a 60.24m throw, before retiring in the third round as a precaution to a slight right abductor strain. Goldie Sayers (GBR) delighted the home crowd by setting a new national record of 66.17m to win the competition.

In the men’s pole vault, WAIS athlete and Olympic champion Steve Hooker was unable to come to terms with the wet weather conditions, returning no height from his three attempts.

The event was won by German vaulter Bjorn Otto, who defied the conditions to clear 5.74m and set himself as one of the pre-Olympic favourites for the men’s pole vault crown.

– with Athletics Australia