Kathryn Mitchell (Vic) added a second javelin Olympic qualifier to her name in as many weeks on Friday night in Ostrava, while Mitchell Watt (Qld) recorded his biggest ever season-opening jump on the Gold Coast.
 
At the Ostrava Golden Spike meet Mitchell was in outstanding form. The 29-year-old set a new personal best in the javelin of 64.34m, which was the same distance thrown by reigning world champion Mariya Abakumova (RUS), who finished one place above Mitchell in second. Barbora Spotakova (CZE) set a new world lead of 67.78m to win the competition.
 
It was Mitchell’s second qualifier to date, having thrown the first, of 62.46m, at a meet in Saarbucken (GER) two weeks ago.
 
Other results in Ostrava saw Tamsyn Manou (Vic) finish sixth in the 800m in 2:01.87. Pamela Jelimo (KEN) won in 1:58.49.
 
Meanwhile today on the Gold Coast, at the Queensland Athletics Winter Series meet, Watt kick started his 2012 campaign with a leap of 8.21m, in round two of the long jump, the furthest he has ever recorded at an opening competition.
 
The World Championship silver medallist said: “I probably had my best jump in the first round, but it was a tiny foul. Once I got at least 8.20 out that’s all I wanted.
 
“It’s my best ever season opener so I was hoping to jump something around that. Things in training have been going really well, even better than last year. But a few things are a touch behind because I haven’t had as much volume as I previously would have, having had the domestic season out. The jumping element has been going well though.
 
“I leave for New York on Wednesday. Today was half competition, half training for me. There was Gary [Bourne – his coach], my parents and a few news crews. To jump that in those conditions, by myself, is pleasing.”
 
Watt hadn’t competed since September last year, in Zurich, when he was crowned Diamond League champion. Since then the Oceania record holder has been recovering from Achilles and calf injuries, which forced his absence from the 2012 domestic season and consequently the 24-year-old insists he has been itching to compete.
 
He continued: “I packed my bags about two weeks ago. My competition kit has been sitting in the corner of my room since Christmas, staring at me for ages. That helped motivate me for today; it gave me a bit of extra adrenaline. It was good to get up this morning knowing I was going to compete; I’ve missed it massively.
 
“Last year I was happy to win the Diamond League but felt like I was trying to hold onto my form in Daegu having jumped massive in Shanghai and Stockholm. Thisyear it’s about building week-to-week to ensure I have my biggest jumps in London.”
 
A large contingent of Australian athletes competed at the Taiwan Athletics Championships in Taipei.
 
In the 100m Anthony Alozie (Vic) was the first Australian across the line in third place in 10.31 (+1.2 m/s) with Josh Ross (Vic) fourth in 10.32, Isaac Ntiamoah (NSW) fifth (10.35), Patrick Fakiye (NSW) seventh (10.46) and Mitchell Williams-Swain (Qld) eighth in 10.63. Jamaica’s Michael Frater was the fastest man in the field with a time of 10.05.
 
In the 200m Andrew McCabe (Qld) was second in 20.93 (-1.3 m/s). Across the 110mH Mitchell Tysoe (NSW) clocked 14.47 (-1.7 m/s) to cross the line in seventh.
 
Timothy McGuire (SA) was fourth in the long jump thanks to his opening effort of 7.42m (+0.5m/s). Will Claye (USA) was the only athlete to go beyond eight meters and he won the competition with a final jump of 8.03m (+0.7m/s).
 
Also in the field Luanga Andria (Vic)came fourth in the javelin with his first round throw of 66.47m, while Huw Peacock (Tas) won the hammer with his opening effort of 61.98m.