Johannes Vetter is the star at European Throwing Cup

LEIRIA (POR): World javelin champion Johannes Vetter will compete in the European Throwing Cup in Leiria during the weekend. Vetter will almost certainly challenge the event record of 85.85m having already surpassed the 90m line this season. Two other reigning global champions will be in action on the men’s side: Rio winner Germany’s Christoph Harting in the discus and London winner Poland’s Pawel Fajdek in the hammer. Harting will face world silver medallist Daniel Stahl from Sweden and last year’s winner Lukas Weisshaidinger from Austria in the discus and Fajdek will face last year’s winner Quentin Bigot from France in the hammer. On the women’s side, recently crowned world indoor champion Anita Marton from Hungary will contest both the shot put and discus in Leiria. The discus line-up also includes event record-holder Nadine Muller and the Germans will also be strong in the women’s javelin courtesy of former world champion Katharina Molitor and Christin Hussong. Favourites in the women’s hammer are world bronze medallist Malwina Kopron from Poland, world-leader Hanna Malyshik from Belarus and former world bronze medallist and last year’s winner Alexandra Tavernier from France. Outstanding heptathletes Geraldine Ruckstuhl from Switzerland and Alina Shukh from Ukraine also compete in the javelin, although Shukh will compete in the U23 competition instead.