Wlodarczyk is world-wide phenomenon, with 47 of the top 100 hammer throws registered under her name.
Back home, Kenya’s towering and masculine Roseline Rakamba, aims to scale the same height going to the continental athletics championships which starts next Wednesday in Asaba, Nigeria.
Incidentally, Rakamba, 27, only turned to hammer throw this season having dominated the local scene in discuss, but failed to make the national team on numerous occasions.
The policewoman heads to Nigeria on Monday with her sights set on improving her personal bests with 2019 World Championships qualifying standards and targeting continental glory.
“I took to discuss throw in 2013, but since then it has been frustrating in trying to get qualification standard for international events, but this year, my friend Dominic Abuda convinced me to try hammer,” Rakamba said.
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“Being my first season in the hammer throw, I didn’t expect to do well because, I was new in the event and still learning the ropes, but got surprised when I threw 53.78m at the national championships and qualified for Africa Championships.”
She added: “Now, I have self belief and confident of doing well in Nigeria, I would love to improve on my personal best throws and get the World Championships qualification standard. My primary target though is a podium finish,” she said.
Javelin thrower Damacline Nyakeruri is another member of field events squad who will be making her debut at the Africa meet.
Nyakeruri, 25, who took to the sport in 2015 and has a best throw is 49.49m achieved at the National Athletics Championships in June at Kasarani Stadium.
The former student at Igorera Secondary School in Kisii County and member of National Police Service is eyeing a national record at the continental event.
The current record stands at 53.58m set by Cecilia Kiplangat in 2007 during an Athletics Kenya meeting in Kisumu.
“I’m pretty happy to make it to the national team, I hope to do well and surpass my current PB of 49.49m, I believe I can go over 54m, which will be a national record,” Nyakeruri said.
Meanwhile, after throwing 80.91m at the National Championships in June, the 2015 world javelin champion Julius Yego will be aiming for his third victory at the Africa Championships.
Yego first won the continental championships in Porto-Novo, Benin, in 2012 and defended the title in Marrakech, Morocco two years later.
Since his outstanding show in Beijing in 2015, Yego has posted poor performances.
“I’m happy to make my third appearance at the Africa meet, I hope to win my third gold medal at the championships” said Yego.
