Women's Javelin Throw qualifying
Norway’s world record holder Trine Hattestad who first competed in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics moved confidently into the final with a first round 65.44 metre throw. Joining her from this group were Greece’s world champion Mirella Maniani-Tzelili who proceeded with a 63.34m effort. The group was headed by Germany’s Steffi Nerius with a new personal best of 65.76m.
Finland’s European bronze medallist Mikaela Ingberg went through with 60.85m as the best thrower not to achieve the 61.50m automatic qualification level. Hungary’s European junior champion Nikolett Szabo went out with 58.86 metres. Also, a brave Louise Currey of Australia - the silver medallist in Atlanta - with heavy strapping protecting a leg injury could do no better than 53.32 metres.
This was not to be Australia’s day as Jo Stone who took the silver in the 1997 world championships was also throwing in less than perfect health having like Currey been injured in the Australian championships on this runway in August. In the end all that Stone could produce was 58.34m in group B and failed to qualify.
In this group, Cuba’s world junior champion Osleidys Menendez was the furtherest overall qualifier with 67.34 metres - a marvellous new national & area record - and she was joined by her compatriot Ximomara Rivero who set a season’s best of 61.89 metres. Russia’s world championship silver medallist Tatyana Shikolenko also qualified with her first throw of 61.54m. However, Romania’s Felicea Tilea who was second in the 1995 world championships missed the cut with a best of 58.75 metres way short of her season’s best of 63.12m.Also new Finnish record holder Taina Uppa - 64.06m NR this year - was way short with 57.39 metres.
