Athletics-Katzberg retains world hammer title with monster throw

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By Mitch Phillips

TOKYO (Reuters) – Canada’s Ethan Katzberg claimed a third global hammer title in three years when he launched his second attempt a massive 84.70 metres on Tuesday for a world championship record that made him the fifth-longest thrower in history.

The 23-year-old, who was incredibly over 81 metres with all six throws, is now a double world champion either side of his Olympic triumph last year.

His win made it a hammer double for Canada in Tokyo after Camryn Rogers completed the same global hat-trick on Monday.

In a final of stellar quality, Germany’s Merlin Hummel took silver after he hugely improved his personal best from 81.27 to 82.77 with his first throw.

Hungary’s Olympic silver medallist Bence Halasz added a third world bronze to his collection with 82.69 metres.

The big names came out all guns blazing as Halasz threw 81.51 but Katzberg topped that with 82.66.

Hummel trumped them both, however, with the last throw of the first round when he massively improved his personal best from 81.27 to 82.77 to earn a surprise lead.

But Katzberg showed his championship credentials by reclaiming the lead at the next opportunity with his 84.70, the best in the world this year by well over a metre and making him the fifth-longest thrower of all time.

Halasz improved to 82.69 with his third attempt but the positions remained unchanged.

Underlining his dominance, Katzberg reeled off four more big efforts of 82.01, 81.86, 83.07 and 83.73 to finish with the gold already assured. The worst of his six throws would have got him fifth place.

“I knew it was going to be a very strong field but I didn’t think four people were going to throw over 82 – I don’t know if that’s ever happened. It’s never happened in my career,” Katzberg said.

“To have that level of competition at a major finals – that’s what I want and that’s what motivates me and to be able to come out on top of that battle is really incredible.”

Asked about Canada’s hammer double after Rogers became the second-longest women’s thrower ever, he said: “Well, yesterday she put the pressure on me. I was hoping I could go first, and then I could put the pressure on her.

“But I mean, she had an unusual performance yesterday. And to be able to follow it up tonight is really incredible.”

(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, additional reporting by editing by Ken Ferris)