Slovenia's Ratej now looking to be big news in Barcelona
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| Following her success in Arles, Slovenia's Martina Ratej is now aiming for a medal at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona. |
Before her trip to the cup few would have placed the Slovenian Javelin thrower among the long-range medal prospects for the European Athletics Championships this summer, which will be held in Barcelona between 27 July and 1 August.
However, that all that changed on Sunday.
The 28-year-old from Šentjur launched the Javelin out to a national record of 65.96m, a massive improvement on her previous mark 63.44m set just under two years ago.
The distance, her third Slovenian record, is the second best performance in the world this year.
"I am very pleased because I achieved my best result by far in my career. I had three throws over 60m. It was a good series but I passed my last two throws because I knew that I couldn't throw another record. Now my main objective is the European Athletics Championships, where I want to get among the medals," reflected a delighted Ratej.
Ratej has always been known as a talented athlete but, prior to last season, had struggled to make an impact in big competitions. She failed to get beyond the qualifying rounds at both the 2006 European Athletics Championships and the 2008 Olympic Games.
However, last summer she made a modest breakthrough getting the bronze medal at the Mediterranean Games and then making the World Championships final, in which she finished 11th.
Now, a place on the podium in Barcelona potentially awaits her.
In addition to her record distance in Arles, she also caused an upset by beating Russia's Mariya Abakumova, the clear pre-cup favourite having got medals at last Olympics and the 2009 World Championships.
"Before starting, I expected that I will exceed 60 metres but not that I was going to beat Abakumova. However, this winter I have trained very well, got stronger and advanced technically, as shown by this result. Now I have to ensure I am in this sort of good shape in Barcelona," she commented.
"Martina now gets a one week break and then we will start preparing for the summer season. In Barcelona, our goal is to get a medal," added her coach Andrej Hajnšek unequivocally.
Slovenia is one of European Athletics' smaller Member Federations, with a population of just over two million. It has only won two European Athletics Championships gold medals since independence was recognised in 1992, both by women.
Britta Bilac won the High Jump in 1994 and Jolanda Ceplak took the 800m title in 2002, so Ratej has a chance of making a big name for herself in Barcelona.
