News18 Jun 2012


Storl and Harting ready for London - German champs, Day 2

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Robert Harting celebrates retaining his Discus Throw World Championships title (© Getty Images)

Wattenscheid, GermanyWhile it was the women who shined on Saturday, it was David Storl’s and Robert Harting’s turn to produce some world-class results as the German Championships concluded in Wattenscheid on Sunday (17).

In better weather conditions with sunshine but some wind and temperatures up to around 20 C. Storl took the Shot Put with 20.96 m while Harting produced a 67.79m throw to win the Discus Throw. Both World champions showed that they will be ready for the Olympic Games in London.

Men’s events - Fine series for Storl

As expected there was no challenge for Storl in the Shot Put. The 22 year-old World champion from Daegu last year started his competition with 20.26m and then improved in the following two rounds, first with 20.43m and then his winning mark of 20.96 m. With 20.78m, x and 20.70 m he completed his series. Each of his valid throws would have been good enough for winning. Marco Schmidt took second place with 20.14m while Tobias Dahm was third (19.56m).

"Today was only about winning," Storl said. "Of course I would have liked to throw 21 metres, but it does not matter that much at this stage. The European Championships will give a first indication. But of course everyone focuses on the Olympic Games. I am on the right track."

Harting dominated the Discus Throw in similar fashion - his first throw of 64.74m would sufficed to win the title. But he improved twice during his competition. In round two he threw 67.69m, then after three fouls, reached 67.79m with his final throw. Martin Wierig took second with 64.48m and Markus Münch was third with 63.17m. Those two had beaten the national qualifying standard for the Olympics earlier in the season as well.

"We had very good conditions today for throwing. It was my goal to throw 67 metres and I have achieved that," said Harting, who expects two or three other throwers to show very good results before London. "If the wind would have been a bit stronger the result might be a bit better. At the European Championships my aim will be to throw more than 68 metres and at the Olympics I want to do a bit better than that."

As usual great depth in the Pole Vault

Malte Mohr defended his title in the Pole Vault with a 5.82m clearance, beating Raphael Holzdeppe (5.77m), Karsten Dilla and Björn Otto (both 5.72m). Mohr, Holzdeppe, Dilla and Otto had all cleared 5.72m. While Mohr and Dilla did that at their first attempts the other two needed two jumps. At 5.77m Mohr and Holzdeppe cleared the bar with their first jump. Dilla missed it three times and Otto then saved his third attempt for the next height. But he could not manage 5.82m and had to settle for fourth. Mohr did clear that height at his second attempt. Trying to snatch the win Holzdeppe moved up to 5.87m with his final attempt, but missed. Mohr, who had established a season’s best in Wattenscheid, did not go any higher on Sunday. As so often in past years in the men’s Pole Vault this result will give officials some headache regarding the Olympic selection. One of the top four from Wattenscheid will have to watch the Olympic from home.

"I am happy to be German Champion, which secures that I will be selected," Mohr said. "I’m satisfied with my performance since I had only one fault. But generally I am not at the level where I would like to be because I had a number of injuries."

On the track Julian Reus produced one of the best results of the day. He won the 200m in 20.58 (+1.1 wind) from Aleixo Platini Menga (20.64) and Sebastian Ernst (20.72).

Women’s events - Obergföll wins and expects to improve

Christina Obergföll once more was superior against strong opposition in the Javelin Throw. The 2008 Olympic bronze medallist took the lead with her first throw of 63.94m. In round two she improved to the winning mark of 65.86m. Then there was only one valid throw for her in the next rounds (65.05m in round five). Linda Stahl took second with 64.35m, followed by Katharina Molitor (63.20). All three will form a strong German team for London.

"It was fun to throw today, because the conditions were good and we had a good wind as well," Obergföll said. "I was more stable today than recently. My throws beyond the 65-metre mark were technically not really good, but I am on my way and the form will come."

Elsewhere in the women’s events Antje Möldner-Schmidt, who had returned to competition last year after a long illness, took the 3000m Steeplechase with 9:42.42. Nineteen year-old youngster Gesa Felicitas Krause, who had surprised with a ninth place at the World Championships in Daegu, had opted to run the 1500m instead of the Steeplechase where she finished fourth in 4:11.94. The winner was Corinna Harrer with 4:11.04.

Jörg Wenig for the IAAF
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