A look ahead to the men’s throws events at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

Shot

Young Kiwi prodigy Jacko Gill may have been stealing all the headlines in recent years, but his team-mate Tom Walsh suddenly came to prominence last winter and starts as favourite.

After opening the Australian outdoor season with big PBs, including a national record 20.61m, Walsh improved still further to 21.26m to win world indoor bronze. He has thrown 21.23m this summer and has another three throws over Gill’s PB of 20.70m.

However, the 19-year-old world junior champion, is fast-improving also and could be a threat.

If anyone can break up a potential New Zealand stranglehold, Jamaica’s O’dayne Richards and Canada’s Tim Nedow look to be the top contenders.

Britain’s best hopes are Jersey’s Zane Duquemin, England’s Scott Rider and Wales’ Ryan Spencer-Jones, who have a chance of making the final if on top form.

Facts and figures

Predictions: 1 Tom Walsh (NZL); 2 Tim Nedow (CAN); 3 O Dayne Richards (JAM). Predicted mark: 20.88m
Reigning champion: Dylan Armstrong (CAN) 21.10

Discus

In the absence of Commonwealth No.1 and 2012 world junior champion Fedrick Dacres, an open battle for the title is expected.

Defending champion Ben Harradine has thrown furthest this season with 65.94m and last year set an Oceania record of 68.20m.
Vikas Dowda, who won silver on home soil in Delhi, is second to him in the standings.

Jamaica’s Jason Morgan will be looking for his 67.15m form of 2012 and Australia’s Julian Wruck is the only other to have gone over 65 metres in 2014.

Wales’ Brett Morse was considered before this season to be a genuine gold medal contender. He threw his best of 66.84m, but this year he has been struggling mainly around 61-metre territory.

Jersey’s Zane Duquemin, who threw over 63 metres in 2012, will need to improve to put himself in contention for a medal.

Facts and figures

Predictions: 1 Benn Harradine (AUS); 2 Vikas Gowda (IND); 3 Julian Wruck (AUS). Predicted mark: 63.65m
Reigning champion: Benn Harradine (AUS) 65.45

Hammer

Two-time Olympian and Canadian record-holder Jim Steacy won silver in Melbourne 2006 and missed Delhi 2010 with injury, but he is almost a metre ahead of his nearest rivals on paper going into Glasgow 2014.

That closest competitor is Nick Miller, the US-based English youngster who has thown a PB of 74.38m this year.

Alex Smith is another English athlete with podium ambitions in this event, while the host nation will also have plenty to cheer as Mark Dry, Chris Bennett and Andy Frost form a strong trio.

Facts and figures

Predictions: 1 Jim Steacy (CAN); 2 Alex Smith (ENG); 3 Nick Miller (ENG). Predicted mark: 74.56m
Reigning champion: Chris Harmse (RSA) 73.15

Javelin

Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad & Tobago faces Kenyan Julius Yego in a battle of the javelin pioneers.

Walcott was the first black male athlete to win an Olympic throwing event when he struck gold in London 2012, while Yego was fourth in the World Championships last year and made the 2012 Olympic final after teaching himself the technique from watching YouTube videos.

They lead the rankings followed by Australians Hamish Peacock and Josh Robinson, while the top home nation hope is British champion Lee Doran of Wales, who was fifth in Delhi 2010.

Facts and figures

Predictions: 1 Julius Yego (KEN); 2 Keshorn Walcott (TTO) ; 3 Hamish Peacock (AUS). Predicted mark: 83.45m
Reigning champion: Jarod Bannister (AUS) 81.71

For more in-depth previews together with rankings, a timetable and further stats see the July 24 issue of AW

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