A hammer thrower at the IAAF World Youth Championships, Cali, 2015 (© Getty Images)
As is often the case when it’s hammer time, it’s the Eastern European entrants who should be looked to first. Romania’s Ana Adela Stanciu is the leading thrower in the field, with a best of 69.58m this season, which she threw in Istanbul to win the Balkan Youth Championships last month. She has thrown over 69 metres in three of her five competitions with the 3kg ball this year, so should prove tough to beat.
Belarus’s Katsiaryna Valadkevich, though, should serve it up to her, the 17-year-old boasting a best of 69.04m this season. It will be no shock, however, if Cuba manages to unearth another hammer champion. Their two entrants, Yaritza de la Martinez and Amanda Armendaris, have both surpassed the 68-metre barrier this season.
Of the others, Germany’s Neele Koopmann, who has thrown 68.29m, and Ukraine’s Valeriya Ivanenko, a 68.00m thrower, look to hold the best chance to get on the podium.
China’s Li Ji is another who should feature, with a best of 67.81m this year, while Spain’s Gema Marti and South Africa’s Tharina van der Walt also hold outside shots of a podium finish.
Cathal Dennehy for the IAAF
