Women’s javelin boasts impressive field
The field for the women’s javelin competition might have been the greatest ever at the Kansas Relays on Friday, but not even the top-flight competition could conquer the blustery conditions.
“It was horrible,” said winner Christina Scherwin, of the wind, which actually died down on her last throw as she came up three feet short of the Relays record.
The Copenhagen, Denmark, native already had the meet won, before she threw 190 feet, one inch on her last attempt — which was nearly 10 feet farther than American Erica Wheeler’s second-place throw.
Besides the victory, the former Danish National meet champ was excited about the competition level of an international field that was put together by the Olympic development committee.
“This is the best event I’ve ever been to in the United States,” she said. “I just love that the girls are all together. This is something we should do more of in the U.S.”
Thus the Olympic committee a few years back designed dates like Friday’s where the top-flight women all could come and compete against each other.
“It’s really hard to go to the same meets to get this kind of competition,” said American record holder Kim Kreiner, who finished third in the competition with a throw of 174 feet.
“This is the best event I’ve ever been to in the regular season, but the wind was not the best. But you got to learn and deal with what you’re handed.”
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Relays off and running