Inside Athletics

Australian javelin record holder Jarrod Bannister has enlisted the help of the longest javelin thrower in history, Uwe Hohn, to take on former world champion Tero Pitkamaki at the Sydney and Melbourne Track Classics.

Bannister has been coached by Hohn since 2008 but the pair have only been able to work together on a day by day basis within Australia recently, following the intervention of Athletics Australia high performance manager Eric Hollingsworth.

"It?s a six-month pilot where we?re going to see how it all works out and then see where we go from there," said Hollingsworth.

"Uwe?s first role is to look after Jarrod Bannister, the highest-ranked javelin thrower in the country and a potential gold medal-winner in London, and his secondary role is to start the development and to research the information to develop Australia into a throws country.

"The goal for Jarrod is Commonwealth gold and then a medal in the next Olympic Games, that?s got to be his target. He?s already been sixth at an Olympic Games so he?s got to go up from there and that?s why the investment has been made."

Bannister made his return to competition last week with a 76.25m victory at the Briggs Classic after missing all of 2009 with an elbow injury he suffered at the Beijing Olympics. In Hohn, who in 1984 set a world record of 104.80 metres with the javelin before the specifications were changed the alter the centre of gravity, Bannister believes he has the right mentor to help him achieve his potential as an athlete.

"It?s definitely a lot easier now that Uwe?s in Australia, we can pretty much work on all aspects of my throwing and my development so it's definitely a positive influence having him here," Bannister said.

An intermediate challenge, one that ultimately will be more challenging than the field that will contest the Commonwealth Games, is Tero Pitkamaki. The latest in a long line of Finns to obtain success in the event, the 27 year old has consistently been one of the best javelin throwers in the world over the past five years, winning the world championships in 2007, an Olympic bronze medal in 2008 and throwing over Bannister's personal best of 89.02m in 11 competitions. Additionally, with his personal best of 91.53m he is the the 7th longest thrower of all-time in the event. Although the pair have faced each other on four occasions, Pitkamaki has been the victor each time.

"It?s good to have some of the top international guys coming over to compete in Australia, it?s definitely exciting," Bannister said.

"Anyone that?s throwing further than you or even around the same distance is going to push you to throw better in that competition so hopefully I?ll get over the 80m mark and I?ll be pretty happy."