Report14 Sep 2014


Report: men's javelin – IAAF Continental Cup, Marrakech 2014

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Ihab Abdelrahman El Sayed, winner of the javelin at the IAAF Continental Cup, Marrakech 2014 (© Getty Images)

Not so much the IAAF Continental Cup as the champions’ cup of male javelin throwers.

The loaded field featured world champion Vitezslav Vesely for Europe, Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott for Americas, African champion and 2014 world leader Ihab Abdelrahman El Sayed for Africa, European champion Antii Ruuskanen and Commonwealth champion Julius Yego of Kenya.

El Sayed has led the world list this summer with the 89.21m throw he unleashed at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Shanghai in May. It was rather fitting, then, that the 25-year-old Egyptian should lead all the way in the last big competition of the year.

He laid down a marker in the first round with 81.77m, leading from Walcott (81.02m) and Yego (80.24m). Then, in round two, El Sayed hurled his javelin out to 85.44m.

Only Veseley could summon any kind of response, throwing 83.12m, which proved good enough to secure second place. Walcott and Yego did improve, though, finishing third and fourth with 83.52m and 83.06m respectively.

“I did a good thing for my team,” said El Sayed, the first non-European winner of the men’s javelin in the history of this competition. “It’s an intensely satisfying feeling, even if I injured my foot on my last attempt. My next goal is gold at the World Championships in Beijing next year.”

Simon Turnbull for the IAAF

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