Women's world javelin champ Spotakova wins Olympic gold
Updated: August 21, 2008, 11:52 AM ET
Associated Press
BEIJING -- Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic has won the Olympic gold medal in the women's javelin.
Thursday's track & field
• Men's 400: Merritt stuns Wariner as U.S. sweeps• Women's 200: Jamaica's Campbell-Brown wins; Felix second
• Men's, Women's 400 relay: U.S. drops baton, out of finals
• Men's triple jump: Evora wins Portugal's first gold
• Men's 110 hurdles: Robles tops pair of U.S. hurdlers
• Women's javelin: Spotakova wins gold
The world championship gold medalist was in second place until the last round Thursday night. She then set a European record of 234 feet, 4 inches on the next-to-last throw.
Maria Abakumova had set a European record of 232-2 as light rain fell to lead. Going last, she was unable to regain the lead from Spotakova.
Christina Obergfoell of Germany, the silver medalist at the last two world championships, was third at 216-11. Osleidys Menendez of Cuba, the 2004 Olympic champion and world record-holder, was sixth.
Leryn Franco of Paraguay finished 51st overall.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
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