Scott in hammer throw final

The TT’s two-time "Sportswoman of the Year" heaved the hammer to 66.85 metres on her first throw of the Group "B" qualifiers. It did not measure up to the automatic qualifying distance of 70 metres.

But it was the 11th best overall from the two groups and she will get another opportunity of vying for her first major medal at the World Championships.

Having only recently emerged as the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) champion in Bahamas, Scott would need to get close her season’s and personal best of 71.45 to be in medal contention.

At the CAC Games, Cuba’s defending world champion Yepsi Moreno was not one of the participants. And the dynamic Cuban strongwoman signaled her intention that she is not ready to give up her world’s crown without a fight.

Moreno topped Group "A" and all the twelve qualifiers with a heave of 72.67 metres. She led Russian challenger Tatyana Lysenko who posted 71.14 and Poland’s Kamila Skolimowska with 70.28 as the automatic qualifiers from that group.

In Group "B," Russia’s 2003 World Championships silver-medallist topped the qualifiers with 71.97 metres and was followed by France’s 2003 bronze medallist Manuela Montebrun who registered 71.63.

The other qualifiers from Group "B" are Ukraine’s Iryna Sekachova (68.55 m), Germany’s Susanne Keil (67.82m), USA’s Erin Gilreath (67.41m) and TT’s Scott (66.86m).

In Group "A," Romania’s world record holder Mihaela Melinte (68.61m), Italy’s Clarissa Claretti (68.21 m) and China’s Zhang (66.73m) made it through for the medal showdown tomorrow.

Judging from the results, Scott will have to be in her best shape to vie for a medal.

She finished in ninth position in 2003 when she established herself as the best thrower from the English-speaking Caribbean. The Cuban world champion and the Russians will definitely be the outstanding favourites to achieve glory for their nation.

Meanwhile, TT’s 200-metre champion Aaron Armstrong ran a great race in lane eight of the quarter-finals to finish third and secure a semi-final berth.

But he forfeited the opportunity to clash with the Americans John Capel and Wallace Spearmon who finished one-two in the first semi-final race. Also in the event was CAC’s newly-crowned champion Usian Bolt who bettered Armstrong in the 200 final in Bahamas last month. Armstrong was down to race in lane seven.

Capel (20.45 secs) running in lane six and Spearmon (20.49) in lane three finished one-two in the first semi-final. They led home Germany’s Tobias Unger (20.63) in lane five and Jamaica’s world junior champion and record holder Usain Bolt (20.68) in lane four.

Gay (20.27 secs) in lane six powered home ahead of Gatlin (20.47), who shut down with fifteen metres to go in lane four, while Mauritius Stephane Buckland (20.54) in lane five and Australia’s Patrick Johnson (20.65) in lane seven were third and fourth respectively, in the other semi-final.

Both races were contested under difficult conditions on a wet track and against a strong head wind.

The Americans will be aiming for a clean sweep in what could be a thrilling race as Gatlin seeks glory with double sprint gold.

Recognising that his chances of a medal in the 200m, Armstrong will team up with Marc Burns, Darrel Brown and Jacey Harper in their quest for a medal at the world’s premier athletics competition.

The 200-metre final has been re-scheduled to today and will affect his chances of giving his best for TT’s advancing to the medal round.

The TT sprint relay quartet has already remodelled the national mark three-times. And they are the current world leaders and strong favourite to cop one of the three medals, if not, the prized gold.

Kevon Pierre is also a member of that team and he is also fired up for the big race of their lives. It is TT’s best chance of coming home with a medal.

TT’s champion two-lap specialist Sheridan Kirk will also be in action in the 800 metres heats.