ATHLETICS: Eight-time national champion Kim Mickle (WA) has closed the Australian campaign at the IAAF World Championships in stunning style by winning the silver medal in the women’s javelin final. 

Joined in the round-of-12 by Kathryn Mitchell (Vic), who placed a fantastic 5th with a season best throw of 63.77m, Mickle earned her position on the podium with a huge new personal best of 66.60m, just 20 centimetres shy of the Australian record. 

Similarly to the qualifying round yesterday, Mickle opened her account with a smaller than usual 60.43m before a second round then personal best of 66.25m saw her move into the gold medal position. She remained there until eventual winner Christina Obergfoll (GER, first, 69.05m) clinched the lead the following round, with Mickle then throwing 64.18m, 64.29m, a foul and her best mark to close out yet another consistent series. Maria Abukumova (RUS) won bronze with a 65.09m throw. 

Mickle’s best mark improves on the then career best of 65.73m she threw to qualify for the final, and not only eradicates the disappointment of her London 2012 Olympic Games campaign but also betters her outstanding 6th from the IAAF World Championships two years ago in Daegu (KOR). 

“I don’t even know what to say. I can’t believe that actually happened. I enjoyed every moment of it. It was the scariest and funniest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It’s a dream come true,” Mickle, who is the Australian vice captain, said. 

“On that last throw the Russians got behind me and I boomed the hell out of it. I almost got the Aussie record but hey that gives me something to do next year. There is still more there and it is such an exciting time for me. 

“This is redemption. It keeps popping into my mind how bad last year was, and this is the complete flip. It shows that you can’t let yourself get down in the dumps you just use it as fuel and capitalise on it the next year.” 

Mickle’s silver medal sees her sit alongside Joanna Stone as the only Australian female to win a medal in the women’s javelin at the IAAF World Championships. It caps off a huge year for the Commonwealth Games silver medallist that includes a podium finish each and every time she has competed. 

Mitchell was equally amazing, with her 63.77m season best throw for 5th seeing her rocket to the second best ever performance by an Australian woman in the women’s javelin at the IAAF World Championships. Throwing her best mark with her first attempt, Mitchell’s series also included two fouls, and legal marks of 62.19m, 60.34m and 62.23m. 

“It was so nice to open my series the way I did. I knew that I needed to do that to make sure that I put a little bit of pressure on and challenge for the next three throws. The performance is where I am at this year, and it was great to get on out there and have the chance to finish in the top-eight,” Mitchell said. 

“When I had surgery last year I was worried that I wouldn’t make the team, and then when I was here I got worried that I wouldn’t make the final and of course the same thing happened about making the top-eight. To finish 5th just ticks every box, there’s nothing more I could have done and my worrying seems silly in retrospect because I knew that I had a throw like today in me." 

Mitchell also applauded Mickle on her performance. 

“Kim’s throws were just amazing, her series was awesome. Two personal bests, and if you can find a better preparation and execution I will be surprised. She was totally focused, and so relaxed so it was great to watch. It was great to keep each other entertained out there,” Mitchell said. 

In a disappointing result, the Australian Flame men’s 4x100m relay team was unable to recapture the form that saw them equal the Australian record at the London Olympic Games after the baton was dropped in the heat on the transition between Josh Ross (Vic) and Andrew McCabe (Qld). 

The men’s 4x100m relay also brought to a close this the 14th IAAF World Championships. 

The Australian team’s six top-eight placings have been delivered by medallists Sally Pearson (Qld, silver, 100mH), Mickle and Jared Tallent (Vic, bronze, 50km walk), as well as Zoe Buckman (Vic, 1500m), Mitchell and the men’s 4x400m relay team (Steve Solomon, Alex Beck, Craig Burns, Tristan Thomas). 

Highly praising of the Australian Team, as well as the Local Organising Committee and the IAAF, Athletics Australia President Rob Fildes OAM will leave Moscow looking forward to the next chapter of the journey towards the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero (BRA) where the athletics section of the Australian Olympic Team will be doing all it can to assist in the fulfillment of the Australian Institute of Sport’s Winning Edge strategy. 

“It has been an outstanding nine days here in Moscow, and I commend the Local Organising Committee, as well as the IAAF, for yet another example of fantastic event management and coordination. As someone who has been involved in athletics for such a long time as both an athlete and administrator, I very much enjoyed seeing track and field return to the grand Luzhniki Stadium and trust the people of Russia have been very excited by the way in which their team has delivered on the medal table on home soil,” Fildes said. 

“The Australian Flame at this event welcomed many new faces, and to each and every debutant I extend sincere congratulations for taking the next step in your athletics career. It is a testament to your determination and talent as athletes. The performances of athletes on the team in this the first year of the new Olympic and Paralympic cycle have been at a standard Athletics Australia are very proud of and very excited by."

The close of competition here in Moscow does not mean the close of the athletics season, with the IAAF Diamond League set to continue in Stockholm (SWE) later this week.

Athletics Australia