Report13 Jul 2012


Barcelona 2012 - Event Report - Men's Javelin Throw Final

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Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad & Tobago celebrates after winning the men's Javelin final at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona (© Getty Images)

Both the season’s list and the qualification round suggested tonight’s final would be a two-horse battle between Trinidad & Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott, whose impressive 82.83 set earlier this month had catapulted him into the fifth place on the all-time junior list, and Argentina’s Braian Toledo, the Youth Olympic Games gold medallist holder of another outstanding best of 79.73.

In the first round Walcott threw a modest 70.77 and Toledo, the next competitor in the line-up order took a comfortable lead thanks to a 73.45 heave. The fireworks began on the second attempt when Walcott’s javelin landed to a respectable 77.03 but the Argentinean responded immediately with a 77.09 effort to narrowly keep his top berth.

Another fierce fight was taking place in the battle for the bronze medal; actually Germany’s Bernhard Seifert and South Africa’s Morne Moolman were not far from the leading duo as they managed respective tosses of 75.84 (SB) and 75.63 (PB).

The following two rounds became a bit disappointing as none of the first four was able to better their previous efforts. In round five Moolman unleashed 76.29 to displace Seifert from the bronze medal position and come within one metre of the gold medal.

The German could not respond (74.12) and Walcott’s penultimate chance to assault the gold medal was also unfruitful as his throw was measured at 75.67 while Toledo could not strengthen his lead (75.11).

In the final round Moolman didn’t better (75.14) but Seifert fouled which meant the bronze medal would be for the South African.

With the penultimate heave of the evening Walcott thrilled up the stadium with a 78.64 effort far enough to overtake Toledo and get into the gold medal position. Having led since the very beginning of the contest it seemed that Walcott’s closing try had left the Argentinean rather perplexed as he could not respond in style (74.58) to finally claim 'only’ silver.

Just like yesterday’s discus champion Fedrick Dacres of Jamaica, Walcott’s gold medal goes to a totally unknown territory for his country, the throwing events, as his compatriots Ato Boldon, Darrel Brown, Renny Quow and more recently Jehue Gordon excelled in the sprint disciplines.

Toledo now joins pole vaulter German Chiaraviglio as the only Argentinean medallist at the World Junior Championships

Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF
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