The 8th HYLO® Speerwurfmeeting: an Olympic springboard
On Sunday (12 May 2024), Offenburg will once again be hosting the 8th HYLO® Speerwurfmeeting. This event in the ETSV Stadium, very popular with the entire javelin community, will match the previous year in forming part of the World Athletics Continental Tour.
The list of competitors promises some more top athletic performances. As well as 2017 javelin world champion Johannes Vetter at his home games, a range of top national and international athletes will once again ensure a party atmosphere for the spectators in the stands.
One particularly exciting competitor among the women is Maria Andrejczyk of Poland. She has achieved an impressive 71.40 m throw, making her one of the elite few women to beat the 70-metre mark. After a break due to injury, she is hoping to be able to throw beyond the Olympic benchmark of 64 metres once again.
Her competition is strong: other athletes include Christin Hussong of LAZ Zweibrücken, the 2018 European champion, Sígrid Borge of Norway with a personal best of 66.50 m, and Annu Rani of India, the newly crowned Asian champion.
One particular highlight will undoubtedly be Max Dehning’s appearance. This young athlete from Leverkusen secured his place in the world elite with a throw of 90.20 m and will definitely challenge local hero Johannes Vetter.
Decathlon world champion Niklas Kaul will also be trying his hand among the specialists. With a personal best of 79.05 m, the decathlete can definitely hold his own in this individual discipline.
The event will offer a unique atmosphere, and thanks to the additional stands constructed and the spectators’ location close to the athletes’ landing zone, it will be a thrilling and motivating occasion for both young talent and experienced, well-established old hands. SWR will be reporting directly from the ETSV Stadium in a livestream from 1:20 p.m..
TICKETS FOR THE OLYMPICS UP FOR GRABS
The World Athletics Continental Tour, the second tier of track-and-field meets after the Diamond League, is split into three levels: gold, silver and bronze. The HYLO® Speerwurfmeeting’s category of ‘Continental Tour Bronze’ means that athletes can gain points for the world rankings and thus qualify for the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Johannes Vetter will also be taking part in his first official competition of the season and attempting to reach the European Championship and Olympic benchmark at this home event. The German javelin record holder (97.76 metres) has just returned from a training camp in Turkey, and after two difficult years full of sporting and health setbacks, has his sights set firmly on a comeback and the Olympic stage.
Since the first event in 2017, the two founders and organisers – national men’s javelin coach Boris Obergföll and stalwart track-and-field coach Werner Daniels – have been seeking to establish a high-quality event for young talent. The eighth year of the HYLO® Speerwurfmeeting will continue pursuing this goal. Before men’s and women’s competitions, the young talent from the U18, U20 and U23 age classes will have an opportunity to show off their skills on the big stage and gain experience to help their further development in elite sport.
PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE FOR THE 8TH HYLO® SPEERWURFMEETING OFFENBURG:
10:00 a.m.: women U18 / U20 / U23
12:00 p.m.: men U18 / U20 / U23
1:20 p.m.: women
2:45 p.m.: men
Event location:
ETSV Stadium, Freiburger Str. 22, 77652 Offenburg
Tickets at the gate or online at:
LAOG (leichtathletik-offenburg.de) Free entry for children aged up to 15