Athletics Australia – News – OLYMPICS: Mitchell 9th in javelin final

Victorian javelin thrower Kathryn Mitchell has placed ninth at her Olympic debut to top off a breakthrough season for the 30-year-old.

Throwing on an electric night in the London Olympic Stadium, following a world record in the men’s 800m and Usain Bolt winning the sprint double, the Australian just missed out on the top-eight and a further three throws.

“I didn't quite get through. If I just got over the 60 metre line I would have had good a chance,” Mitchell said.

She opened with 58.31 metres, then improved to 59.46m before finishing with 58.45m.

“It was hard work, it's my first major final. I didn't throw as far as I would have liked. A lot of girls really struggled out there.

“I came into the Olympics ranked 12th, so I knew it was realistic to make the final and I just got in which was great. After I reassessed and top 8 was realistic tonight if I threw well. I can't say I'm disappointed I'm not in a position to throw 70 metres just yet.”

Barbara Spotakova from the Czech Republic won the gold with a season best 69.55m. German Christina Obergfoll won silver with 65.16m and her teammate Linda Stahl won bronze with a season best 64.91m.

Mitchell threw a huge personal best of 64.34m in May would have almost got her on the podium.

Steve Hooker (WA) and the men’s 4x100m relay team with fly the flag for Australia in the evening session on Day 14 of the Games.

Men's 4x400m Relay (Heats)

he Australian men’s 4×400 metre relay team have crossed the line in sixth, been elevated to fifth following a disqualification and just missed the final by two spots or 0.31 seconds in a drama filled two heats at the Olympic Stadium.

Led off by 400 metre individual finalist Steven Solomon (NSW), the 19-year-old ran a great leg and passed the baton to Ben Offereins (WA) equal in the lead with the Bahamas and the United States of America.

Offereins went out very fast for the first 150 metres to try and hold the lead with the Bahamas but paid for it in the back end and was swamped by the field passing to 400m hurdles semi-finalist Brendan Cole (ACT).

The Canberra runner ran a strong leg and passed two teams, and with an injury to the Jamaican third runner, handed the baton to John Steffensen (NSW) in fifth with a lot of work to do. The Bahamas and the United States were well clear with teams battling for other placing and qualification.

Steffensen ran well and looked poised to strike on the second bend but the Russian Federation and Dominican Republic pulled away. The Dominican Republic team was later disqualified and although the Venezuelans were initially disqualified, which would have still left the Aussies out of the final, they were later reinstated leaving the Australian team in 10th overall.

The Australians time of 3:03.17 was slower than fifth place in heat 1 – Poland in 3:02.86.

The Bahamas won with 2:58.87, the same time was also given to the Americans.

One of the favourites for the event Jamaica were forced out on the third leg with an injury to Jermaine Gonzales on the back straight.

“The boys did very well, this is relay running, it's track and field running and you have to prepare yourselves for the highs and the lows," said Steffenson.

“The whole team is very supportive. The team never has a problem with each other.”

Australia's first finalist in the individual 400m since 1988, Solomon admitted the event had taken it out of him.

“I was a little bit drained but I ran really well out there and felt better than I did in the heats, semi finals and final (in the 400m)," he said.

“We had some tough changes. Once you’re in that final position you can gain so much off them and lose so much off them so unfortunately we had a bit of trouble in our changes today but thats a learning curve we can take into future relays."

In heat 1, the second South African athlete went down leading into the home straight without getting to the changeover with Oscar Pistorius. Trinidad and Tobago and Great Britain crossed the line in 3:00.38.  

With thanks to the Australian Olympic Committee

 

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