Can Harting defend his title?

Published in last week's Athletics Weekly

ROBERT HARTING is unbeaten this year and such form makes the German the clear favourite to retain his crown. Harting has produced three of the seven best marks in the world this year and the 26-year-old was a comfortable winner at the European Team Championships too.

Virgilijus Alekna hasn't made the podium at the past two World Championships but the former two-time champion could pose the greatest threat to Harting. The 39-year-old has triumphed at the two most recent Diamond League events which shows the Lithuanian will still be a protagonist despite his veteran status.

Olympic champion Gerd Kanter from Estonia hasn't produced his best form at the two most recent major championships but the Osaka world champion has competed a bit more sparingly in the build-up and this might be to his advantage.

Piotr Malachowski sustained a knee injury at the World Military Games last month and the Pole's form has dovetailed since. Likewise, Zoltan Kovago hasn't really backed up his world-leading mark of 69.50m.

Championship record: 70.17m Virgilijus Alekna (LTU)

Reigning champion: Robert Harting (GER)

British interest: Abdul Buhari, Brett Morse, Carl Myerscough

AW's prediction: 1. Harting, 2. Alekna, 3. Kanter

Significant victories: Hengelo: Robert Harting (GER) 68.23m. Eugene: Harting 68.40m. Paris: Harting 67.32m. Stockholm: Virgilijus Alekna (LTU) 65.05m. London: Alekna 66.71m

Did you know? Robert Harting's 20-year-old brother Christoph has a PB of 62.12m and he finished fifth at the European Under-23 Championships.