Robert Harting of Germany in the discus qualifying round (© Getty Images)
Robert Harting had a great start to what is a very special season for the German discus thrower. It will be in his hometown Berlin, where the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics will take place from 15 to 23 August.
On Saturday (16) in Wiesbaden, Harting made his first step towards qualifying for the big occasion. In his very first throw he achieved a winning mark of 66.93m. It was one of a number of fine performances by German athletes on the first busy national athletics weekend this season.
Harting also added 66.41 and 66.60 in rounds four and six with three fouls. His winning mark from Wiesbaden is exactly the same as his then personal best in 2007. And in that year he took a sensational silver medal at the World Championships in Osaka. This might be a good sign regarding Berlin! In 2008 Harting improved his PB to 68.65m.
While in Wiesbaden Harting easily beat the German qualifying standard for Berlin (64.50m), second placed Markus Münch (64.48) just missed it by two centimetres. Martin Wierig was third with 63.90m. Male throwers have to achieve the qualifying mark twice during the qualifying period.
Dietzsch is back in business
In contrast to the men the Germany’s women discus throwers have to achieve the qualifying standard of 62.00m just once in the built-up to Berlin. Nadine Müller did this in Wiesbaden with a throw of 63.46m on her final attempt. She beat the reigning World champion Franka Dietzsch, who had been absent from competition for almost a year due to health and injury problems.
Dietzsch came back in Wiesbaden with a second place and 61.49m. There is still a long way to go for the 41-year-old, but Franka Dietzsch remained optimistic: “All that counts is Berlin,” said Franka Dietzsch, who as a defending champion is automatically qualified for the event. Jessica Kolotzei was third with 60.23m.
Marco Schmidt took the Shot Put in Wiesbaden with 19.71m.
Heidler – 73.89m in Darmstadt
There was more good throwing at the German university championships in nearby Darmstadt at the weekend. Coming back from a training camp in San Diego (USA) on Sunday morning (17) Betty Heidler did not rest long. A couple of hours later she took the victory with a fine winning mark of 73.89m, beating her training partners Kathrin Klaas (71.25) and Andrea Bunjes (70.23). Betty Heidler is automatically qualified for Berlin because of her Osaka gold medal and Klaas and Bunjes both beat the qualifying mark of 70.00m.
A day earlier (Sat 16) Linda Stahl had taken the Javelin Throw with 62.48m.
Friedrich begins summer with 1.95m leap
On Saturday the European Indoor Champion from Turin, Ariane Friedrich, started her season in Darmstadt with a 1.95m clearance in the High Jump. She then missed 2.00 metres in windy conditions three times.
Raul Spank had every reason to be happy with his season debut. He took the High Jump with 2.31m. It has only been in Beijing, where he had jumped higher before. With 2.32m Spank had taken a surprise fifth place at the Olympics. With his 2.31m clearance he achieved the Berlin qualifying mark at his first attempt.
3000 m Steeplechaser Antje Möldner won a 2000m event in Pliezhausen on Sunday (17) with a time of 6:15.90.
Kenyans dominate Ruhr Marathon
Meanwhile Sunday’s Ruhr Marathon was dominated by Kenyans. Samson Bungei clocked a fine 2:09:21 on the route from Dortmund to Essen. Bett Hillary took second in 2:09:27 while Raymond Kipkoech was third with 2:09:33.
Three Kenyans were the fastest in the women’s race as well. Rose Chesire clocked 2:36:50 while Jane Nyambura (2:37:18) and Selina Chelimo (2:44:23) followed.
Sabrina Mockenhaupt had taken the Berlin Women’s 10k race on Saturday (16) with a 33:48 run.
Jörg Wenig for the IAAF
