Harting (pictured top), who won world gold in 2009 and 2011, went over 70 metres for the first time in his career when he threw 70.31m in the German city of Halle on May 19.

Within just three days, however, he had improved his 2012 world-leading mark to 70.66m – the best throw in the world for more than two years – in the Czech town of Turnov.

Ennis (pictured below), meanwhile, set a national record and world-leading total of 6,906 points in winning at the Hypo meeting in the Austrian town of Götzis on May 27.

Belgian decathlete Hans Van Alphen, who produced a national record and world-leading total of 8,519 points in claiming victory at the Hypo meeting, was second in the men's poll.


The Netherlands' Churandy Martina, the sprinter who set a European-leading time of 20.26sec for the 200m at the Samsung Diamond League meeting in Doha on May 11, finished third.

In the women's poll, Barbora Špotáková, the Czech Republic's javelin world record holder and reigning Olympic champion, who achieved a world-leading 68.65m at the Samsung Diamond League meeting in Rome on May 31, was voted second.

Germany's hammer world record holder Betty Heidler, who remains unbeaten this season, was voted third after her efforts in throwing a mammoth 78.07m at the Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on May 24.

European Athletics' monthly poll received overwhelming support from thousands of athletics fans and media alike from across the continent.

Selections are based on votes by the public, media and a panel of European Athletics experts – each counting for 33.3 per cent of the final vote.

No athlete who has previously served a two-year doping ban can be nominated for, or win, the award.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]