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World Athletics Championships Day Six, Part Two: Beware or Believe?

Athletics RSS / / 31 August 2011 /

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Thorkildsen: unstoppable this year and a big-time competitor

Thorkildsen: unstoppable this year and a big-time competitor

"Since his loss in the 2007 World Championships, Thorkildsen has gone on to become European, World and Olympic champion, and has dominated competition in 2011, being the only thrower to surpass 90 metres so far this season."

Athletics championships pose punters a problem. With a plethora of short-priced favourites, it's always hard to separate the genuine sporting titan from the overhyped chancer. During the nine days of World Championship action in Daegu, Jack Houghton tells us which skinny ones to believe in, and which to beware of.

This is the second instalment for Thursday's action. The first part can be found here.

Men's Javelin - Andreas Thorkildsen - BELIEVE
From the moment Thorkildsen broke 90 metres for the first time in 2006, the Norwegian has been near unstoppable in major competitions, his only defeat coming in the 2007 World Championships when, struggling with back problems, he was unable to overhaul Pitkamaki's 89.16. Since that loss, Thorkildsen has gone on to become European, World and Olympic champion, and has dominated competition in 2011, being the only thrower to surpass 90 metres so far this season. Although beaten twice back in May, Thorkildsen has come into form when it matters, his world leading mark being set a fortnight ago in Byrkjelo. If he can repeat that throw in Daegu, his chief rivals - all out of form this year - will struggle to get close to him.

Men's Long Jump - Michael Watt - BEWARE
Michael Watt ([2.0]) has won ten of his 12 competitions this year, posting the four best jumps of the season along the way. His 8.54 in Stockholm in July represents a steady improvement for the Australian, who was third at the 2009 World Championships in 8.37. However, there is no getting away from the fact that his personal best is unexciting in all-time terms, and Watt is surely vulnerable to an old-timer - like Saladino or Phillips - rediscovering a little of their best, or a younger jumper - like Chuva, Claye or Menkov - proving to have more potential than the Australian. Certainly, for an athlete who has yet to prove himself at a major championship, Watt's price is prohibitive.

Recommendations:
1pt back Andreas Thorkildsen at [1.35] in men's javelin.
1pt lay Michael Watt at [2.0] in men's long jump.

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