Youth Hammer

Ed Healey

From the IAAF site:

"The youngest boy of these championships is Hungary’s Sandor Palhegyi whose birth certificate states he was born on 4 November 1988.

The 14-year-and-246-days old hammer thrower will not be content with just that symbolic title. Today, he automatically qualified for the finals with a 73.16m effort and now stands amongst the favourite for a medal."

Official Results - HAMMER THROW (5kg) - Men - Final

Friday, July 11, 2003 - 19:40

Pos Bib Athlete Country Mark
1 480 Levin Mikhail RUS 76.41
2 265 Németh Kristóf HUN 75.59
3 267 Pálhegyi Sándor HUN 75.47 (PB)
4 475 Aydamirov Yevgeniy RUS 72.76
5 243 Katsikantamis Efthímios GRE 68.47
6 15 Wardhaugh Simon AUS 67.06
7 187 Mättölä Petri FIN 65.42
8 173 Hunt Margus EST 64.77 (PB)
9 509 Kvist Stefan SWE 62.91 (PB)
10 347 Al-Takrouni Talal KSA 62.58
11 172 Vicente Isaac ESP 59.17
12 581 Midles Zack USA 57.99

Athlete 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

Levin Mikhail 76.29 X 75.44 X 76.41 X
Németh Kristóf X 70.10 72.91 72.99 75.59 X
Pálhegyi Sándor 71.85 75.47 X 70.72 73.68 X
Aydamirov Yevgeniy X 72.32 X 72.54 72.76 X
Katsikantamis Efthímios 68.47 X 60.87 64.65 66.74 X
Wardhaugh Simon X 62.20 65.36 X 67.06 X
Mättölä Petri 65.42 X 65.14 X X X
Hunt Margus 58.54 63.46 64.77 60.74 X -
Kvist Stefan 47.20 62.91 51.49 NM NM NM
Al-Takrouni Talal X 62.58 X NM NM NM
Vicente Isaac X X 59.17 NM NM NM
Midles Zack X 57.99 56.34 NM NM NM

I have a feeling at the moment that only one or two Irish hammer throwers of any age could throw the 5Kg hammer further that this lad! A truly sad state of affairs indeed.

How far can our best 15 year old throw? What are these guys doing that ours aren't?

Our young walkers seem to be benefitting from an organised training programme. Congratulations to Ann Loughnane on a fine PB and Silver.

When will we see the same standard in the hammer throw?

Ed