Despite the chilly conditions on offer at the European Throwing Cup in Samorin last weekend, four world leading marks were set and one championship record was broken at the x-bionic sphere.
Germany’s Olympic discus champion Christoph Harting was one of the most vocal about the conditions. “It’s the first time in years it feels like a Winter Throwing Cup!” he said after finishing second behind Belgium’s Philip Milanov with 62.61m.
His teammate Christin Hussong fared better in the javelin, soaring in excess of the IAAF World Championships qualifying standard of 61.50m with 65.47m. After the competition, Hussong reflected on winning gold at the European Championships in Berlin last August and being coached by her father.
The conditions were on the cool side but the wind conditions were favourable for the javelin throwers on the first day. Not only was there a high quality senior women’s competition, Italy’s Sara Zabarino added four metres to her lifetime best to win the U23 competition with 58.62m. “My main goal is to make a PB and today I’ve done it!” she said. “I’ve done the standard and I will also go to Gavle for the European U23 Championships.”
Switzerland’s Geraldine Ruckstuhl was disappointed with her third-place finish but her main focus for the rest of the season remains the combined events. She will be aiming to participate in the heptathlon at both the European U23 Championships and at the World Championships in Doha.
Another athlete with Doha on their mind is 18-year-old world and European U18 champion Myhaylo Kokhan from Ukraine who has already surpassed the qualifying standard of 76.00m twice this year. Kokhan talked about going head-to-head with his idol Bence Halasz from Hungary in the U23 hammer in Samorin.
Sweden’s Fanny Roos missed out on the medals in the shot put at the European Indoor Championships but she took a good win over two throwers who finished ahead of her in Glasgow. Roos was the only thrower to surpass the 18m-line in Samorin - something which she achieved with her first four throws.