Athletics: Mickles spears sixth spot

Rockingham javelin thrower Kim Mickle has finished sixth in the women’s final at the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daugu, South Korea, following a best throw of 61.96m.

The result was Mickle’s best ever on the world stage, and the throw doubled as an Olympic A-Qualifier for next year’s London Games.

Mickle, who won silver at last year’s Commonwealth Games, began her campaign in the final with 59.33m, before following it up with 57.07m and 60.87m, to sit within the top eight at the halfway mark of competition and secure three more throws.

Fouling in the fourth round, Mickle backed up with 61.96m in the penultimate round, her best-ever throw at a major championship, before closing with 61.33m to sit sixth at the conclusion of competition.

The event was won by Russian Maria Abakumova, who threw a world and championship record of 71.99m to steal the gold in the fifth round from Czech athlete Barbora Spotakova.