European Athletics (EAA) – News – Discus thrower Müller harnesses the wind to win in Dessau

Germany’s top discus thrower Nadine Müller provided the highlight of the first European Athletics Outdoor Classic Meeting of the summer when she threw 65.55m at the Annhalt 2011 – 13th Internationals Leichtathletik meeting in Dessau on Wednesday.

The windy conditions in the Paul-Greifzu-Stadion made it hard work for athletes in many events but helped the discus throwers.

Müller, who had the longest throw in the world last year and won at the SPAR European Team Championships but then struggled to maintain her form later in the summer and could only finish eighth at the 2010 European Athletics Championships, unleashed her big throw in the second round and won by well over a metre from China’s Ma Xuejun, who was second with 63.93m.

Fellow German Nadine Kleinert is the best women’s shot putter in Europe at the moment, having a mark of 19.16m to her name after her performance in Halle recently, but had to settle for a win in a slightly more modest 18.48m with her fellow German international Christina Schwanitz second with 18.22m.

Finland’s 2009 European Athletics U23 Championships javelin gold medallist Ari Mannio provided arguably the highlight of the men’s field events when he launched the spear out to 83.57m.

Germany’s Mark Frank, 10 years Mannio’s senior at 33 and twice a World Championships finalist, produced a season’s best of 82.13 for second place.

In the men’s 1,500m, the wind meant the runners fell short of their target of getting close to the 3:35 but Poland’s Bartosz Nowicki won an enthralling race with a burst of acceleration down the home straight to cross the line in 3:37.99m.

Germany’s 2010 European Athletics Championships 1500m silver medallist Carsten Schlangen finished in the same position as he did in Barcelona with 3:38.50.

Half-a-stride behind in third place was Austria’s 21-year-odl Andreas Vojta, who could be in contention for a medal at the European Athletics U23 Championships later this summer in the Czech city of Ostrava, in a personal best of 3:38.55.

Germany’s Denise Krebs won the women’s 1500m in a personal best of 4:10.29, coming home in front of France’s Hind Dihiba, who was second with 4:10.62.

The leading pair were followed home by two of Germany’s emerging middle-distance talents who will also be hoping to be in the battle for medals at the European Athletics U23 Championships after setting personal bests in Dessau.

Elina Zujev was third in 4:11.05, just ahead of Corinna Harrer, who clocked 4:11.20, and both women are still just 20.

There were high hopes that German pole vault star Malte Mohr, the 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships bronze medallist, could produce something special but the wind caused problems for all the vaulters and he had to settle for second place after only clearing 5.52m with his third attempt.

"To blame the wind is usually a silly excuse but, for once, I think it is a valid one. It was difficult to find the right moment to start your run,” reflected Mohr.

First place went to Greece’s Konstadinos Filippidis, who was fifth at the 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships. He also got over 5.52m but had fewer failures during the competition.

Great Britain’s Lee McConnell won the women’s 400m in 52.14,

The event in Dessau on Wednesday was the first of 13 European Athletics Outdoor Classic Meetings that will take place in 2011.

Further details of all European Athletics Outdoor Meetings can be found here.

European Athletics (EAA) – News