KATHRYN Mitchell has just come up short of a medal in the javelin throw at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
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The Ballarat athlete produced her best throw with her last attempt on Thursday, but had to be satisfied with fourth.
Her Australian teammate and favourite Kim Mickle took gold.
Two-time defending champion South African Sunette Viljoen was second, with another Australian, Kelsey-Lee Roberts, third.
In an exciting climax, Viljoen and Roberts also had their best throws with their last attempt to squeeze Mitchell out of a podium finish.
Mickle threw a Commonwealth Games record of 65.96 metres early in the competition and was never threatened.
Viljoen spoiled Australia’s hopes of a clean sweep with a 63.19m throw and Roberts secured the bronze medal with 62.95m to Mitchell on 62.59m.
Throwing 11th in the 12-strong field, Mitchell was second to Mickle after round one with 62.33, with Roberts way back on 43.50m.
Roberts made her move with her second throw of 62.40m to go to second.
It then went down to the sixth and last attempt to decide the silver and bronze medals Mitchell’s attempts: 62.33m, no throw, 61.12m, no throw, 60.62m, 62.59m.
Mickle said she had dreamt of the golden moment.
“I’ve visualised it for the last month,” she said. “Every single night I’ve pictured myself on top of the dais.
“It’s the way I scripted it in my head so for it to actually happen the way I felt it should have is pretty sweet.”
Mickle believed she was capable of an even bigger throw, only to fall for the trap of trying too hard.
“With javelin, it’s a perfection sport, so if you go hard and get something slightly wrong it’s going to go nowhere and that’s what happened with my last four throws,” she said.
EUREKA Athletic Club member Victoria Mitchell finished ninth in the women’s 3000-metres steeplechase.
Mitchell was part of the leading until 800m to go, but was unable to maintain the pace set by the Kenyans, who finished first, second and third.
She clocked 9:49.05 – seven seconds outside her season best.
Fellow Australians Madeline Heiner (9:34.01) and Genevieve Lacaze (9:37.04) finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Purity Kirui from Kenya won gold in 9:30.96.
david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au
With AAP