CORK’S NICOLA TUTHILL finished in 16th place in Sunday’s hammer throw qualification at the Stade de France, missing out on a place in the Olympic final by just over a metre.
The 20-year-old’s first effort hit the cage before she followed up with a 68.87 metre throw on her second attempt.
Tuthill saved her best for the third and final throw of her Olympic debut, matching the second best distance of her career to date with 69.90m.
With 12 final places on offer, the Kilbrittian athlete missed out on qualification by 1.16m.
“I’m only 20, I was the youngest one in the field there for hammer, so to be here was amazing,” she told RTÉ’s David Gillick afterwards.
“The first throw didn’t go my way so I was a little bit stressed, I was like ‘Oh my God, I have to get one out now’, but to be able to pull out a 68 and then a 69, I’m so happy.”
“I’ve had such a good year, I’ve made two senior [finals] — I’ve made the Olympics, which is pretty cool.
“I’m delighted, it’s been such a good year, so keep building hopefully.”
Feckin massive distance throws there and still not enough! Was tough luck on her but she’s obviously got many years ahead of her. Keep an eye on her progress.
The baby of the competition, she did brilliantly to recover from a foul first throw and throw two Hammers near to her PB. The automatic qualification distance for the final was three metres further than that. Buy to finish 16th in a field of 32 is a brilliant achievement…
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