Grant finishes ninth in javelin

JAMAICAN PARALYMPIAN Sylvia Grant finished ninth in the women's javelin - combined classes F57 and F58 - at the Paralympic Games in Beijing yesterday.

In a highly competitive group with six athletes in each class, Grant's best throw was 16.05 metres. However, that was not good enough to take her into the second round.

The event was won by China's Suping Qing (F57) with a distance of 22.71m and 1,140 points.

Best

Nakhumicha Zakayo, (F57) of Kenya, won silver with a throw of 22.64m and 1,137 points. The bronze medal went to Jeny Velazco of Mexico (F58) with a best of 30.57m and 1,037 points.

On Tuesday, Jamaica's Vinette Green also failed to medal in the women's discus event.

Green's F54 class was merged with F55 and F56, making the competition very tough. Green, who has a personal best of 14.91m, could only manage 13.07 on the day, which did not take her through to the second round.

Up until press time yesterday, Jamaican Alphanso Cunningham was expected to compete in the men's javelin event.