Men's Javelin and Hammer and Women's Discus Highlight Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland

By Adam Kopet

The list of throwers competing June 5 at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, continue to get better, according to the IAAF.

In March it was announced the winner of the men's javelin could win the deed to an island in the Turku Archipelago if the winning mark surpasses the Finnish record of 305-5 (93.09m). Germans Johannes Vetter and Thomas Rohler, along with Finnish thrower Tero Pitkamaki had already committed to the event.

Now Andreas Hofmann of Germany and Julius Yego of Kenya have also joined the field. All five men have personal bests over 90 meters (295-3). Vetter and Rohler both have personal bests beyond 93 meters.

This could also be the first time the 90-meter mark in the men's javelin, the 80-meter mark in the men's hammer and the 70-meter mark in the women's discus are surpassed in a one-day competition.

The men's hammer, part of the IAAF Hammer Throw Challenge, features four men with personal bests over 80 meters (262-5). Poland's Pawel Fajdek, Great Britain's Nick Miller, Tajikistan's Dilshod Nazarov and Poland's Wojciech Nowicki are all entered.

The women's discus features Croatia's Sandra Perkovic. She set a world-leading mark of 234-2 (71.38m) at the Doha Diamond League meeting.