Sophie Hitchon set a new British record in the women’s hammer to give herself a chance of winning a medal on her Olympic debut.
Hitchon was under pressure after two inadequate attempts but, with her last effort, she found her rhythm superbly, launching the hammer 71.98m to beat her previous best of 71.61m which she set earlier this year.
The 21-year-old failed to reach the final of last year’s World Championships but she was far stronger here and although she remains an outside bet for a medal, she will be encouraged by her efforts. Hitchon’s distance put her 10th after the opening round, with the top 12 athletes moving through to the final on Friday.
Hitchon was a promising ballet dancer in her youth and has been competing seriously in the hammer only since 2007. If she manages to finish on the podium, it would be the first time a British woman has done so in the Olympics. The women’s hammer made its debut in the Games in Sydney in 2000.
It was also a happy morning for Great Britain
pole vaulter Steve Lewis, although he did not have to work as hard as Hitchon did to progress to the final.
The initial qualification mark was set at 5.70m but Lewis’s first-time clearance at 5.50m put him straight into the top 12 competitors, meaning he moved through without having to do another leap.
“It’s amazing to have made the final after only one jump,” said the Commonwealth silver medallist. “The morning sessions are not easy and you have to be really alert, so I’m super happy and excited to be in the final.”
