Issue Four - Season slow to start after Olympics

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After a big season last year, many athletes are slow to begin competing this season. Athletes will train hard and avoid big competitions early. This year is no exception. Few of the Olympic medalists have had sub-par seasons so far. However, bigger throws will likely come from all of them.

The International Scene

Silver medalist Ivan Tikhon (BLR)

To begin with, let us take a look at how each of the Olympic medalists are faring this season. Koji Murofushi (JPN) withdrew from the Osaka Grand Prix after feeling ill. His only competition this season was the Japanese National Championships, where he won be a large margin at 76.47 meters, more than eight meters under his national record. Silver medalist Ivan Tikhon (BLR) has also been under his best, but has faired well against good competition. He won the Winter Throwing European Cup in March and the European Athletics Festival this month. His season best of 80.17 meters was at the Winter Throwing European Cup. Bronze medalist Ersef Apak (TUR) has been the best so far and currently has the best mark in the world. He has thrown in five meets, and won them all. His best result of 81.45 meters set a new national record against good competition. However, he has yet to venture outside of Turkey to throw.

Olga Kuzenkova (RUS) won the gold in Athens, but she has been unspectacular so far this season. However, one must remember that Kuzenkova was also slow to reach form last season. Like last year, she has been consistent around 70 meters early and will likely gain distance as the bigger meets arrive. Silver medalist Yipsi Moreno (CUB) injured herself after Athens and has thrown in just one competition this season. She has a season best of 70.99 meters. Yunaika Crawford (CUB) has only thrown at three home meets and reached just 69 meters.

Other top men have been slow to start the season also. Olli Pekka Karjalainen (FIN) has reached just 78 meters. Libor Charfreitag (SVK) threw well early while in America, but has yet to throw great overseas. Vadim Devyatovski (BLR) has had some quality wins, but holds a season best of only 80.17 meters. Olympic finalist Primoz Kozmus (SLO) has been sidelined for the season due to a back injury. Sydney gold medalist Szymon Ziolkowski (POL), on the other hand, has been returning to form this season and had a quality win at the European Cup Super League last wekeend. All these events leave one in suspense for the remainder of the season. The top twenty throwers this season are seperated by about three meters.

Many other women are also involved in the mix. Kamila Skolimowska (POL) has thrown well early. She placed third in Seville, and won last weekend's European Cup Super League with a near national recor throw of 72.38 meters. Betty Heidler (GER) is also near her national record. After placing fourth at the Winter Throwing European Cup in March, Heidler has won her last six competitions including the Seville Grand Prix with a season best effort of 72.08 meters. Young Zhang Enxiu (CHN) has thrown close to personal best early in the season with a throw of 72.34 meters to win the Osaka Grand Prix. Yekaterina Khoroshikh (RUS) is also new on the scene. Last year her best was only 68 meters, but this season she has thrown consistantly over that mark and has a best of 73.08 meters. However, in her only competition outside of Russia (the Winter Throwing European Cup) she place only sixth. Lastly, American Erin Gilreath has improved steadily throughout the season and beat Kuzenkova at the Norwich Union meet in early June with a season best throw of 71.49 meters. Like the men, the women will be very competitive this season as no clear frontrunner has emerged.

The American Scene
Like the international scene, the American men's scene is also chaotic. Last year's top throw, James Parker, has been more busy with military duty this year and has thrown in few meets. His best this season is 74.52 meters and he has improved in each of his meets. Jud Logan's throwers, however, have emerged as the favorites. Olympia A.G. Kruger did not emerge as a top thrower until last year's Olympic trials, but has thrown well earlier this year. He has been consistent around 73-75 meters with a best of 75.48 meters. He has also placed first or second in every one of his competitions. Kruger's training partner, Kibwe Johnson, has been the suprise of the season. Entering the year with a personal best of 69.49 meters, he has improved nearly ten meters to 78.25 meters this year. However, he has yet to show great consistency and has had only two meets over 75 meters and severl under 72 meters. Among the other contenders are Scott Boothby (74.19 meters) and the broze medalist from last year's trials, Travis Nutter (72.66 meters). So far this season, no American has surpassed the 'A' Standard of 78.65 meters for this year's world championships. However, Parker and Kruger surpassed the standard last season and can represent the U.S. in Helsinki.

As mentioned above, Erin Gilreath has thrown well thsi season and has distanced herself from her American competitors. The 'A' Standard was raised two meters to 69.50 meters this season and only one other American, Loree Smith, has surpassed the mark. Smith is in her final year at Colorado State University and threw a new collegiate record of 70.03 meters last month. While she has thrown well over the past month, Smith was not as consistent earlier in the season. Amber Campbell, who place third at the trials but did not have the 'A' Standard and missed making the Olympic team, has improved immensly this season. She has thrown over 69 meters three times this season with a best of 69.44 meters. Anna Mahon is the only other American who has surpassed the 'A' Standard. She did so last season, but has yet to throw this season and looks as though she is retired. Also of note is emerging throwing Britney Henry. Only 20 years old, Henry is redshirting this season at the University of Oregon this season after transfering from LSU. She has thrown well in big meets this year with a win at the Tuscon Elite Classic and a second place finish at the US Open. She threw over 68 meters at both meets.

The Coming Weeks
This weekend will see the US National Championships take place in Los Angeles. The top three athletes, assuming they have met the 'A' Standard, will be eligible to represent America at this summer's IAAF World Championships in Helsinki. Outside of the US, several smaller Grand Prix meets will host the hammer over the next few weeks. The Josef Odlozil Memorial (CZE) will host the men's hammer as will the Znamensky Memorial (RUS).

Related Information
Top Lists/Rankings
» IAAF 2005 Top Lists (Men | Women)
» IAAF 2005 Junior Top Lists (Men | Women)
» IAAF 2005 Youth Top Lists (Men | Women)
» IAAF Hammer Rankings (Men | Women)

Recent Results
» European Cup Super League (ITA) 17-19 June 2005
» European Athletics Festival (POL) 5 June 2005
» Norwich Union International (GBR) 5 June 2005
» Sevilla Grand Prix (ESP) 4 June 2005
» Cezmi Or Memorial (TUR) 4 June 2005
» Hallesche Erdgas-Werfertage 21-22 May 2005
» Osaka Grand Prix (JPN) 7 May 2005
» European Cup Winter Throwing 12-13 March 2005

Upcoming Meets
» USA Track and Field Championships
» Josef Odlozil Memorial (CZE)
» Znamensky Memorial (RUS)

News articles
» Tikhon and Kuzenkova take over IAAF World Hammer Throw Event Rankings IAAF 7 June 2005
» Moreno opens with 70.99m at Barrientos Memorial IAAF 21 May 2005
» Zhang Wenxiu continues impressively IAAF 17 May 2005
» Kozmus to Miss 2005 Season Track Profile 11 May 2005
» IAAF 11 April 2005
» 80.85m opener for Libor Charfreitag IAAF 4 April 2005
»