by Alfonz JuckVetter superb 94.44 in javelin
LUZERN (SUI, Jul 11): On a cold and damp evening in Luzern, Johannes Vetter put together one of the greatest series in the history of javelin throwing at the Spitzen Leichtathletik Luzern to defeat Olympic champion and teammate Thomas Rohler by five metres. Vetter produced four successive throws over 90m: 90.75m, 91.06m, 93.06m, 94.44m (all personal bests), 89.50m followed by a foul. With his best effort of 94.44m, Vetter moves up to second on the world all-time lists ahead of Rohler and behind Jan Zelezny’s 98.48m (and other 3 meets). Only Zelezny managed 5 90+ throws in one competition in 1997. Rohler went out to 89.45m in the fourth round and 88.47m in the fifth round but still finished a distant second behind Vetter. There was another German winner in the women’s javelin with Christin Hussong going out to 64.18m ahead of Australia’s Kathryn Mitchell (61.44m). After falling in London on Sunday, Sharika Nelvis won the 100m hurdles in a fast 12.67 (-1.2) ahead of Sally Pearson (12.83) and Kristi Castlin (12.98) while Devon Allen won a close 110m hurdles in 13.31 from South Africa’s Antonio Alkana (13.34) and Jarret Eaton (13.38). There were Jamaican wins in the sprinters through Tyquendo Tracey in the 100m (10.23) and Nickel Ashmeade ahead of Warren Weir in the 200m, 20.37 to 20.44 although home favourite Petra Fontanive upset Jamaica’s Janieve Russell in the 400m hurdles, 54.74 to 55.13 while Lea Sprunger won the 200m in 22.97. In the men’s 400m hurdles, Quincy Downing (48.85) and Bershawn Jackson (49.40) took an American one-two with Kariem Hussein only sixth (49.79). Elsewhere on the track, Kelly-Ann Baptiste won the 100m in 11.16, Australia’s Morgan Mitchell won the 400m in 52.21, Amel Tuka won the 800m in 1:46.74 with Matt Centrowitz seventh (1:49.12) and Ethiopia’s Azmera Gebru won the 3000m in 8:52.63. Olga Mullina also cleared 4.62m in the pole vault to defeat Switzerland’s Nicole Buchler (4.40m).
