Athletics Australia – News – Podium finish for Mickle

Kim Mickle (WA) has delivered yet another IAAF Diamond League podium finish in Lausanne (SUI), with the Australian record holder hitting a best mark of 64.20m to finish third in the women’s javelin this morning.

Delivering a third consecutive result amongst the top-three at competition as part of the illustrious series this season, the result follows an unbeaten run of victories in Australia that saw the Perth-based IAAF World Championships silver medallist improve her personal best to 66.83m and win yet another national title at the Commonwealth Games Selection Trial.

Mickle, who returned to her overseas base in Cologne (GER) this week to continue her preparation for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (SCO), opened her account with her best throw, before completing her six throw series with performances of 62.14m, a foul, 61.11m, 62.13m and a closer of 62.96m. The Olympic champion Barbora Spotakova (CZE) won the event with a season best throw of 66.72m, with Martina Ratej (SLO) second (64.63m).

Also competing in the women’s javelin was London 2012 and Moscow 2013 finalist Kathryn Mitchell (Vic).

Delivering a uncharacteristic series that included four fouls, Mitchell only managed a best mark of 58.23m, well below her two season best throws from the Adelaide Track Classic and adidas Grand Prix in New York (USA) that sit beyond a massive 66 metres.

The competitive Australian duo will next line up alongside each other in the women’s javelin at the Monaco (MON) instalment of the IAAF Diamond League on Friday 18 July.

Mickle and Mitchell were joined on Lausanne entry lists by national record holder Benn Harradine (Qld), who took to the thrower’s circle for the men’s discus throw just days after victory at the Sollentuna Grand Prix in Sollentuna (SWE).

Hitting a best mark of 63.23m, the reigning Commonwealth champion placed 8th overall behind winner Poitr Malachowski (POL, first,66.63m). Harradine’s six throw series begun with a 61.77m effort, before his best mark in round two, a foul and throws of 60.94m, 60.48m and 62.01m.

In other recent strong results, Australian record holder Alana Boyd (Qld) has launched her international season in style by winning the women’s pole vault at the Prague Pole Vault Meet with a leap of 4.52m, while London Olympian Ben St Lawrence (NSW) took victory in the men’s 5000m at the Belfast International in a season best time of 13:27.72.

The IAAF Diamond League continues in Paris (FRA) on Saturday 5 July with Olympic champion Sally Pearson (Qld, 100mH) and former world champion Dani Samuels (NSW, discus throw) set to lead the Australian charge.

Competition from two of Australia’s leading ladies of the sport headlines a big day of athletics in Europe as the build-up to Glasgow 2014 continues, with complete details on the competition plan for the almost 20 green and gold charges that will battle it out that same day available here.

Athletics Australia – News 

To view and download full results from today’s event, please click here.