2013 SEASON – WORLD LEVEL
The Olympic medallists were Pars (born 1982), Kozmus (1979) and Murofushi (1974). The question was whether there would be a change in the guard this time at the World Championships.
By the time of the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Pars was top of the world rankings and Kozmus was more active at a high level this year. Murofushi is just 29th on the world list – but this is typical of recent years before championships.
But Fadjek and Melich were consistently throwing well this year and it was their turn to step up having underperformed at the Olympics – Fadjek had no-throws in qualifying (but won this year’s World University Games, which turned out to be significant).
Fadjek dominated the World Final from the off with 81.97 in the first round and 80.92 in round 2. He improved further to 82.27 in Dubnica a few weeks later. Pars threw 80.30 in round one but could not throw further. He won the Dubnica meet with the longest throw of the year at 82.40. Pars threw 80 eight times in 2013, Fadjek twice but Melich (3rd World Champ) 3 x. Only five men over 80m all season. May finally be getting a generational change. Fadjek/Pars/Melich were the top the in the IAAF Hammer challenge as well.
Kozmus was 4th in the world champs and Nazarov 5th – he did win at Halle this year, but had never previously made the top eight at Olympic or World Championships level. Litvinov (the Russian Champion who’s competed for Germany before) wanted to emulate his father with a title – but his 80.89 pb is considerably further than his next best competition and he wound up 11th I Moscow.
The world champs level in depth was good – qualifying was 75.18 and eighth best 77.57 were better than London. 28 starters was a bit down in terms of entries.
World strength in depth is below last year and Britain has been able to take advantage. As of last week GBR has nine men in the world top 100 – by far a record. All between 51-100 though – it’s clear what the next step is!
WOMEN
The Olympic medallists were Lysenko, Wlodarczyk and Heidler – much the most consistent throwers in the world in recent years – but Heidler, just as she did in last year’s Europeans, came a cropper in the qualifying round. Lysenko won the Russian Championships from Bulgakova and Kondrateva so will have a strong team.
The world’s best throwing was in the final. Lysenko 78.80 and Wlodarczyk 78.44 weren’t that far off the world record. Very noticeable with the women that the top girls threw over 73 casually in the warm up. Uncompromising. 70.47 is the best ever qualifying mark (and 71.07 was 12th in the final) though 72.70 for eighth is a little down on London. NB five non-Europeans in the final - so is possible that Zurich will need less than 70 to make the final.
The Americans are stronger in the women’s division than the men’s – Jeneva McCall won the World Universities title and made the final in Moscow alongside Amanda Bingson.
Sophie went for Britain but qualifying is always demanding, with just two warm ups and three throws. She’s done so well in the past with last round throws but it’s always risky. Currently Sophie is ranked 19th in the world (NB Sophie finished 2012 in 27th place on the world list).
IAAF Challenge – Wlodarczyk, Lysenko and Heidler. Get the event in the Diamond League – the crowd love it!
EURO U23S
Sophie went onto the competition as favourite – and won with her last round 70.72. A formidable achievement and a huge World or European title for UK hammer throwing to win. Spiler who was second also threw in the Worlds.
Makhrosenka won the men’s event at over 74 for BLR. Nick Miller threw well to make the final but clearly left his best form in the States. Nick was a bit tentative with his first throw – so ran out of attempts.
WORLD YOUTHS
Taylor was very unlucky at 71.49 to miss by a cm. This mark would have easily qualified in all previous years. In fact standards in depth have gone up by five metres since 2009 – which goes to prove the event has really caught on. Need more competition – for girls as well as boys – with the lighter weights. This year’s first year U17s will be the key athletes in two years.
Women used a 3kg for the first time at U18 level – though UK U17s use 4K!
EUROPEAN TEAM
Sophie set a UKR in the third round with 72.97 - a superb result in wet conditions given that only three throws were guaranteed. She finished third in the competition which was won by Heidler over Wlodarczyk!
Mark placed 11th in the men’s event. His third round 68.30 wasn’t bad but we’ve got to find a way back to 70m level in this competition – we haven’t thrown that far in this or its European Cup equivalent since 2003!!
NB The men’s event was held in very windy conditions and frankly the cage did not look safe.
EUROPEAN JUNIORS
Michael Painter and Callum Brown didn’t make the final = 12th place in qualifying was 68.30 so it was within reach. The winner was Pronkin at 78.34
Louisa made the girls final with 59.46 – 57.66 was necessary – and led after the first round of the final with 59.53, Then eight came by in rounds two and three so Louisa was 9th! The winning throw was just over 65m.
THE 2013 UK SEASON: MEN
Nine over 70 is an absolute record = was 6 (first achieved in 1983-84, then more recently)
Also recs: 68.35 for tenth and 24 over 60m
Depth holds very steady – 90 over 46m. Compare with walks, steeplechase, and marathon – total collapse
All time lists: loads of movement lower down – now thirty over 70m. Only Nick Miller enters the top 20 but we’ve suddenly got more than a hundred over 60m (the first was Mike Ellis in the 50s)
U20S
Twelve over 60m (cf eight in 2012) and tenth best was 60.83. Thirty over 50m
Surprisingly Michael and Callum did not improve on their 2012 personal bests with the 6.
Nick Percy (69.53) is now 7th all-time and Taylor Campbell (67.11) 14th all time
U18
Great throwing from Taylor (72.36) and so unlucky at the World Youths. Fellan also over 70m this year
U17
Depth well down by over four metres at 10th place level and at 20th place levels.
Ciaran Wright (67.27) is a good lead (and 16th all time) but few went over 60m this year. This is a key age group for the World Youths in two years.
U15
Nine over 50 m is not bad historically – as is 31 over 40m and Jake Norris (68.15) is now 2nd all-time and George Marvell (64.66) 8th all time.
WOMEN
Sophie rules the UK completely. Sarah threw well in early meets but Shaunagh dominated other domestic meetings – the UK, CAU and Southern Champs for instance – and is now 7th all time. Big improvements from Scots Rachel Hunter and Kimberley Reed – going to be a dogfight for Scottish places next year! Louisa finally made it to 60m. Lots of other very good depth - twenty over 53m and 32 over 50m. ALL-TIME – now 90 over 50m and 41 over 55m
W U20
Louisa James (60.83) now 3rd all-time and Kimberley Reed (59.69) 5th
W U17
Rebecca Keating (52.56) now 5th all-time and Emma Bowie (52.31) 6th
W U15
All in the all-time list:
Stephanie Howe (52.74) 2nd, Katie Head (52.18) 4th, Amber Rimington (52.11) 5th and Olivia Stevenson (50.19) 9th.
Depth is striking – 16 over 40m and 54 over 30m. 2012 was 12 and 42, 2011 was 10 and 30