Published in Athletics Weekly on August 25
SANDRA PERKOVIC was the early fore-runner for the world title as the European champion achieved the world's longest throw in twelve years with 69.99m but the Croat soon tested positive for a stimulant and her absence leaves this event without a standout contender.
Reigning world champion Dani Samuels hasn't been able to fill this void and the Australian is some three metres down on the form which took her to the gold medal in Berlin, while Stephanie Brown-Trafton isn't producing the distances which made her the Olympic champion either.
Therefore, Nadine Muller from Germany must be considered the leading candidate. Unlike last year when she peaked too early and finished adrift of the medals at the European Championships, Muller has maintained her form and the 26-year-old improved her season's best to 66.99m in her final competition prior to Daegu.
Yarelis Barrios has claimed silver at the past three global championships and the Cuban is a title contender based on Diamond League form along with a strong Chinese trio led by Li Yanfeng who holds the world-lead at 67.98m.
Championship record: 71.62m Martina Hellmann (GDR)
Reigning champion: Dani Samuels (AUS)
British interest: None
AW's prediction: 1. Muller, 2. Barrios, 3. Li Yanfeng
Significant victories: Halle: Li Yangfeng (CHN) 66.18m. Rome: Yarelis Barrios (CUB) 64.18m. Lausanne: Barrios 64.29m. Birmingham: Nadine Muller (GER) 65.75m. Monaco: Muller 65.90m
Did you know? Over-35 veterans, including 40-year-old Ellina Zvereva in Edmonton, won the title between 2001-2007 before 21-year-old Samuels took the gold medal in Berlin.
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