Sergey Makarov in Dessau (© Christian Klaue)
The men’s Javelin which is one of the twelve events (six for men and six for women) which comprise the 2003 IAAF Golden League programme at the six meetings – Oslo (27 June), Paris (4 July), Rome (11 July), Berlin (10 August), Zurich (15 August) and Brussels (5 September) – is shaping up to be one of the most open competitive disciplines of the summer.
Russia’s 2002 IAAF World Cup winner Sergey Makarov, who is the only man so far this season to have surpassed 90 metres (90.11 in Dessau on 30 May) and who was in good form only last weekend with a throw of 88.61 in Kassel (13 June), should be the event favourite for the 1 million US$ Golden League Jackpot of gold, a share of which goes to anyone who wins their individual event at all six IAAF Golden League meetings.
Aleksei Makarov, Sergey’s father and coach says, “Sergey is dreaming now about gold medals at the World Championships in Paris and Olympic Games in Athens, but he will also try to show his best at the Golden League and the World Athletics Final. Sergey is aiming at the region of 96m in the near future.”
“He will fight hard in the Golden League, but is conscious that even in his current good condition much depends on the form of his rivals. He plans to participate in all six meetings and hopes to take the Jackpot.”
Makarov was European silver medallist behind Britain’s Steve Backley last summer in Munich, and while the British Olympic silver medallist is at the moment nursing an injury, and World record holder Zelezny has his sights set firmly on a fourth gold at the 2004 Olympics – but will compete in the Paris Saint-Denis Golden League on 4 July - there will still be plenty of competition for Makarov when the Golden League opens with the Exxon Mobil Bislett Games in Oslo on 27 June.
1999 World champion and silver medallist in 2001, Aki Parviainen of Finland (93.09m PB) is back in the groove after a major shoulder operation at the end of 2002, and in his one competition this year has thrown 83.30m.
Also on the Oslo start list is Alexandr Ivanov, the 21-year-old Russian who threw 88.90m to win at the Znamensky Memorial - IAAF GPII – on 8 June.
Voldemars Lusis of Latvia the son of the 1968 Olympic champion Janis Lusis, is at 28 years of age hitting top form too, with a personal best of 84.19m last weekend in Riga.
Then as a final crowd pleaser, what better than the current World Junior record holder Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway (83.87) who is now 21 and threw 85.72 last weekend (14 June in Ventspils, Latvia).
IAAF