Women's discus an open affair

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-18 08:12

The world's best women's discus exponents will be throwing everything in their arsenals at a podium finish today.

Stephanie Brown Trafton had the longest throw during the prelims on Friday when she threw 62.5m.

Romania's Nicoleta Grasu won the second flight and had the second-best overall throw Friday at 62.4. She was followed by Iryna Yatchenko of Belarus at 62.3 and Yarelys Barrios at 62.2.

American Aretha Thurmond was sixth overall with a mark of 61.9, advancing to the final round.

Brown Trafton entered the Olympics ranked third in the world this season with a personal record of 66.1, a mark that led the world rankings early in the season.

No American woman has won an Olympic discus medal since Leslie Deniz won silver at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Brown Trafton competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, placing 11th in the first of two groups in the prelims with a mark of 58.5. She did not advance to the final round.

Agencies

(China Daily 08/18/2008 page20)