Hammer
gets top billing as Budapest IPM switches to Szombathely
11 July 2002 – The MAL Cup - IAAF Permit Meeting – originally scheduled for
Budapest’s Nepstadion this Sunday, has switched venues and will now take place
in Szombathely, the home of the IAAF Elite Hammer Centre.
Given Hungary’s traditional strength in the Hammer Throw, particularly the men’s event, this seems the ideal alternative venue especially as much of the international hammer community, especially the Cuban and Australian women, currently reside at the centre.
Two of the top Hungarian throwers, reigning European champion Tibor Gecsek and Adrian Annus who with 81.81m stands fifth on this season’s world list, both live in Szombathely with their families.
Naturally, the MAL Cup features both a men’s and a women’s Hammer Throw and the start lists include many of the world’s star names.
As well as Gecsek and Annus, Hungary is also well represented by 1996 Olympic champion Balazs Kiss. The local threesome will be tested by Japan’s Koji Murofushi, the Edmonton world silver medallist, Ukraine’s 1999 world bronze medalist Vladislav Piskunov and Slovakia’s Miloslav Konopka who has a season’s best national record of 79.98m.
In the women’s field, Poland’s Olympic champion Kamila Skolimowska faces Cuba’s world gold medallist Yipsi Moreno and Australia’s Bronwyn Eagles who took the world bronze behind the Cuban in Edmonton last year. Also in the line up is Moreno’s compatriot Yunaika Crawford who has set a personal best this season of 70.62m.
