Posted: July 11, 2006

Athletics: Ceplak Struck By Javelin At Greek Meet

From David Monti

© 2006 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

By Bob Ramsak

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia - Jolanda Ceplak, the Olympic 800m bronze medallist, narrowly escaped serious injury when she was struck by a javelin while warming up prior to a race in Patras, Greece, yesterday.

The 29-year-old Slovenian, who holds the world indoor record at 800m, received just minor injuries when the spear struck her elbow, but was very shaken from the incident.

"I was warming up on the grass when I felt something him me very hard on the elbow, and fell to the ground from the pain," Ceplak told the Slovenian Press Agency, STA. "Then I saw the javelin lying there next to me, and I just froze." Ceplak skipped the rest of her 30 minute warm-up --"I spent most of that time crying," she said-- and went on to compete in the race, finishing second to Bulgarian Teodora Kolarova (2:01.24) in 2:01.80.

Ceplak said that the competitors in the men's javelin throw were warming up at the same time, and that the strong winds in the stadium forced the spear to sail in her direction. "I saw the thrower and he too was very shaken, probably more than I was."

After lingering Achilles tendon problems cut her 2005 season short, Ceplak underwent surgery last October and returned to competition in her specialty in Velenje, Slovenia, last month with a 2:01.83 victory.

"Obviously I didn't warm up properly, but my foot felt fine throughout the race," she said. "The rest I'd rather forget."

Ceplak, the reigning European Champion, will race next at the Borotalco Golden Gala Golden League meeting in Rome on Friday. The strong field includes world champion Zuliya Calatayud of Cuba, Olympic silver medallist Hasna Benhassi of Morocco, world indoor and Commonwealth silver medallist Kenia Sinclair of Jamaica, and Russian 1500m star Yelena Soboleva.

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