JUST one legal throw was all Kathryn Mitchell needed to get through to the javelin final at the Tokyo Olympics.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The Casterton export's second throw of 61.85 metres was the only one she hit in her three qualifying rounds but was enough to secure 10th place. Twelve athletes advanced to the final.
Mitchell was one of three Australians to make it through.
It was a nervous qualification for Mitchell after she took a tumble on her first throw.
READ MORE:
She revealed after the heat that she had tweaked a hamstring in the past couple of weeks, and when she fell she need to do a "quick scan" to make sure everything was in place.
It is the third time Mitchell has made the Olympic final.
"My third Olympic final, that was hard work, just hard work. I don't know what to say," she said to broadcaster Channel 7.
Having not seen her partner and coach for 20 months, Mitchell has persisted and now secured her status as one of Australia's greatest athletes.
Asked about how she had the persistence to continue, she said it was her strength.
"What else is there to do, I think it's what I do best," she said.
"I always believe that there is more possible and the challenges are what makes you stronger."
Mitchell said she wasn't sure what had happened with her first throw.
"The track was fast, because I hurt my hamstring a couple of weeks ago, I haven't had the rhythm work and I just came into the cross step and was way too quick on my feet and then I was sliding on the grass.
"I did a body scan to make sure nothing was broken, and I thought 'okay, I need to back up from that'. So I just reset and pretended we were restarting and not think about it."
She also fouled her final throw and had to wait for five more competitors ranked below her to throw, knowing she needed to be in the top 12.
Fortunately for Mitchell, all five missed her target, allowing her to qualify in 10th position for the final.
Australian world champion Kelsey-Lee Barber was the third highest qualifier, with fellow Australian Mackenzie Little hitting a personal best in qualifying fifth.
Mitchell said she was thrilled for Little to be one of three Australians through to the 12-person final.
"Oh wow, that's great," she said.
"I hadn't seen the result of the first round, so here we are."
It is the first time in history that three Australians have made the final of a field event.
The final will be held on Friday evening.
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.
