Little’s first throw of 63.58m propelled her to third place
Relay hopes dashed by baton bungle and disqualification
Mackenzie Little threw her way on to the podium in the javelin final at the world championships on Saturday, a week after helping save a man’s life at Royal North Shore hospital in Sydney on one of the many night shifts she juggles with athletics.
The 28-year-old doctor produced her longest throw first up, hurling the javelin 63.58m. It was only eclipsed twice in the final, by Ecuadorian gold medallist Juleisy Angulo whose effort of 65.12m was a national record, and by Anete Sietina on the Latvian’s final throw.
The Australian’s long early throw made for a nervous night. “I spent the whole competition visualising the fact that someone would overtake me,” she said, adding she was relieved when finally she knew it would be enough.
