Kathryn Mitchell in women's javelin final
THE AUSTRALIAN Opals have been frustrated by the United States at the past three Olympic Games.
The US has beaten the Opals in the women’s basketball gold medal play-offs in Sydney, Athens and Beijing.
Australia again faces the task of having to overcome the US if it is to get an elusive gold medal.
The difference this time is they meet in a semi-final.
They clash tomorrow morning at 2am.
The Opals feature Bulleen Boomer and former Ballarat Lady Miner Rachel Jarry.
“We'll show them a bit of trademark Aussie toughness,” Jarry wrote on twitter.
The 20-year-old played with the then titled Lady Miners in 2010, winning Ballarat’s and the SEABL most valuable player awards in a stand-out year.
She was also set to play with Ballarat again last year, but was thwarted by a knee injury.
Russia and France will later meet in the other grand final.
OPALS LINE-UP
Suzy Batkovic (Adelaide Lightning)
Abby Bishop (Perpignan, France)
Liz Cambage (Tulsa Shock, US)
Kristi Harrower (Bendigo Spirit)
Laura Hodges (Adelaide Lightning)
Lauren Jackson (Seattle Storm, US)
Kath MacLeod (Dandenong Rangers)
Jenna O’Hea (Dandenong Rangers)
Sam Richards (Bulleen Boomers)
Jennifer Screen (Adelaide Lightning)
Belinda Snell (Coc Polkowice, Poland)
JAVELIN
KATHRYN Mitchell throws in the final tomorrow from 6am.
She qualified for the 12-strong final with the 12th best throw in the qualifying round.
FINAL LINE-UP
Barbora Spotakova (Czech Republic) – threw 66.19m
Christina Obergfoll (Germany) – 66.14m
Sunetta Vijoen (South Africa) – 65.92m
Linda Stahl (German) – 64.78m
Hulhui Lu (China)– 64.45m
Martina Ratej (Slovenia) – 63.60m
Maria Abakumova (Russia) – 63.25m
Asdis Hjamsdottir (Iceland) – 62.77m
Kathrina Molitor (Germany) 62.05m
Madara Palameika (Latvia) – 60.62m
Elizabeth Gleadle (Canada) – 60.26m
Kathryn Mitchell (Australia) – 60.11m
ATHLETICS
Collis Birmingham last night missed out on qualifying for the 5000 metres final.
He finished 17th the first of two heats last night, running 13 minutes, 50.39 seconds.
Hayles Ibrahimov from Azerbaijan won the heat in 13:25.23 – more than 10 seconds slower than Ethopian Dejen Gebremeskel‘s winning time of 13:15.15 in the second heat.