Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic in the 400m Hurdles at the 2011 World Championships (© Getty Images)
World 400m Hurdles leader Zuzana Hejnova and European Javelin champion Vitezslav Vesely are two of the biggest medal hopes on the 28-strong team announced by the Czech Athletics Federation for the IAAF World Championships in Moscow on 10-18 August.
Hejnova is undefeated so far this year in her specialist event. The Olympic bronze medallist has improved on her own Czech record in her past two races, clocking 53.23 in Paris followed by a world-leading 53.07 in London. That performance makes her the clear leader of the athletes entered for the World Championships, 0.6 ahead of her nearest challenger.
Vesely has also been in great form this year, winning at the Diamond League meetings in Doha and Oslo. After a mid-season injury niggle, he returned to top form at the recent Diamond League meeting in Monaco to throw a season’s best of 87.68m, showing he is on course to improve on his fourth-place finish from the last World Championships in 2011.
Also on the team is Czech Pole Vault record-holder Jan Kudlicka, European 400m champion indoors and out Pavel Maslak, Olympic Hammer finalist Lukas Melich and European 400m Hurdles silver medallist Denisa Rosolova.
The Czech Republic won just one medal at the last World Championships in Daegu, thanks to javelin thrower Barbora Spotakova. The World record-holder recently resumed training after giving birth to her first child, but won’t be back in action until next year.
IAAF
CZECH TEAM FOR MOSCOW
Men
400m: Pavel Maslak
800m: Jan Kubista
110m Hurdles: Martin Mazac
High Jump: Jaroslav Baba
Pole Vault: Michal Balner, Jan Kudlicka
Shot: Ladislav Prasil, Martin Stasek, Antonin Zalsky
Hammer: Lukas Melich
Javelin: Vitezslav Vesely
4x400m: Kubista, Petr Lichy, Maslak, Daniel Nemecek, Jan Tesar
Women
100m: Katerina Cechova
800m: Lenka Masna
100m Hurdles: Lucie Skrobakova
400m Hurdles: Zuzana Hejnova, Denisa Rosolova
Pole Vault: Jirina Svobodova
Long Jump: Jana Koresova
Hammer: Tereza Kralova
Heptathlon: Eliska Klucinova
20km Race Walk: Anezka Drahotova, Lucie Pelantova
4x400m: Jitka Bartonickova, Hejnova, Masna, Rosolova, Jana Slaninova, Sylva Skabrahova
