Rutger Smith of the Netherlands celebrates putting 21.29m in the men's Shot Put final (© Getty Images)
Rutger Smith won the Shot Put at the Dutch National Championships on Sunday in the Olympic Stadium of Amsterdam. The World Championships silver medallist managed a 21.02 metres effort in the sixth and final round of the competition. It was a nice present for his 25th birthday.
“I’m not in shape yet and technically I’m not satisfied with my performances,” said Smith. “I should have had four or five 21-metres in this competition.”
Smith who improved his national racord to 21.62m a month ago in Leiden declared. “I’ve been training hard since that meeting. I think I will be more consistent in a few weeks. I will have one last competition before I go to the European Championships in Gothenburg and that will be in Helsinki. I’ve had good experiences in that stadium.”
Smith also competed in the Discus Throw but unfortunately both events took place on the same and although the 25-year-old won a second gold medal his result was a poor 62.35 metres. “I was a bit tired. I hope they will spread the events over two days next year,” Smith pleaded.
Ruckstuhl and Vroemen back in shape
The Netherlands fear for the chances of their first and only World champion Rens Blom. The pole-vaulter has had bad results in his competitions so far, with the 5.50m at the FBK-Games as his best result of the season and a few ‘no heights’ at other meetings. Blom decided to withdraw from all meetings on his schedule after another disappontment in Athens, last Monday.
“I will oncentrate on training and I will only be back in competition when I feel that I’m back in shape,” Blom told his fans. So he was not in Amsterdam for the nationals and it’s doubtfull that he will be in Gothenburg.
Better news came from Karin Ruckstuhl, who won silver in the Penthatlon at the World Indoor Championships in Moscow in March. Ruckstuhl had an achilles-injury at the beginning of the season. She decided not to go to Götzis, her favourite meeting, and also missed de European Cup last week.
However on the first day of the National Championships she won the 100m Hurdles (13.41), the High Jump (1.82 m) and the Long Jump (6.26 m).
“This will give me the self confidence I need for Gothenburg,” she said afterwards.
Simon Vroemen was another athlete-in-shape in Amsterdam. After a long solo the European record holder won the Steeplechase in 8:20.61.
“I ran easier and faster than I expected,” Vroemen commented. “I still think the Spanish are the favourite for the Europeans, but I certainly have a chance for the podium too.”
Cors van den Brink for the IAAF
For full result please click here
