She came,she threw, she qualified. In her first throw, Manuel MONTEBRUN raised French hopes for a medal with an effortless 71.36m, the furthest distance of any woman in the qualifying round of the women's Hammer Throw.
Montebrun wasted no time in starting her throw and seemed to have something in reserve, indicating that she must be one of the favourites for the final.
What followed was a long series of throws short of the yellow line which marks the automatic qualifying distance for the final.
This season the qualifying distance of 68.50m has been passed 26 times but today only three women managed that and the 12th place qualifier, GU Yuan (CHN) got through with 66.02m.
The women who were expected to challenge the French champion are world leader Yipsi MORENO (CUB), Olga KUZENKOVA (RUS), Irina SEKACHOVA (UKR), Kamila SKOLIMOWSKA (POL) and Susanne KEIL (GER).
Defending champion Moreno, waited until her third attempt to throw 70.91m, while Kuzenkova's best effort was 69.53m. Sekachova will not play a part in the final after reaching only 61.23m to finish 33rd. Keil was one of many athletes who threw well under their best but still qualified with 66.30m while Skolimowska was marginally better with 66.38m
World record holder Mihaela MELINTE of Romania could only manage 67.27m but will still fight for a medal.
Edmonton bronze medallist Bronwyn EAGLES missed the final with her best effort only 64.97m.
There will be two Germans as Betty HEIDLER also qualified and two Americans, Anna MAHON and Melissa PRICE. Lorraine SHAW (GBR) will contest her third World Championship final while Candice SCOTT (TRI) is in her first.
Montebrun wasted no time in starting her throw and seemed to have something in reserve, indicating that she must be one of the favourites for the final.
What followed was a long series of throws short of the yellow line which marks the automatic qualifying distance for the final.
This season the qualifying distance of 68.50m has been passed 26 times but today only three women managed that and the 12th place qualifier, GU Yuan (CHN) got through with 66.02m.
The women who were expected to challenge the French champion are world leader Yipsi MORENO (CUB), Olga KUZENKOVA (RUS), Irina SEKACHOVA (UKR), Kamila SKOLIMOWSKA (POL) and Susanne KEIL (GER).
Defending champion Moreno, waited until her third attempt to throw 70.91m, while Kuzenkova's best effort was 69.53m. Sekachova will not play a part in the final after reaching only 61.23m to finish 33rd. Keil was one of many athletes who threw well under their best but still qualified with 66.30m while Skolimowska was marginally better with 66.38m
World record holder Mihaela MELINTE of Romania could only manage 67.27m but will still fight for a medal.
Edmonton bronze medallist Bronwyn EAGLES missed the final with her best effort only 64.97m.
There will be two Germans as Betty HEIDLER also qualified and two Americans, Anna MAHON and Melissa PRICE. Lorraine SHAW (GBR) will contest her third World Championship final while Candice SCOTT (TRI) is in her first.
