Kim Mickle in the javelin at the IAAF Continental Cup (© Getty Images)
Five of the world’s top 10 feature in the women’s javelin, including the two Europeans who have dominated the world list this season, Czech world record-holder Barbora Spotakova and Linda Stahl, the German she beat in Zurich to add a first European title to her pair of Olympic crowns.
Spotakovic has lost just once on her comeback from maternity leave, beaten by Canada’s Liz Gleadle in Birmingham, but she bounced back in Brussels with the longest throw of the year at 67.99m to win the Diamond Race. Stahl’s form has been less consistent and her big throw of 67.32m came in New York back in June.
Gleadle will be looking for a repeat of her shock Birmingham win to gain points for the Americas, while the biggest threat to the big two could come from Australia’s world silver medallist Kim Mickle who broke the Oceania record this year and claimed the Commonwealth title.
South Africa’s Sunette Viljoen was second at the Commonwealth Games and the African champion will be her continent’s chief hope.
Matt Brown for the IAAF
