A devastated Tasha Williams sobbed in the arms of New Zealand throwing coach Debbie Strange after missing a Commonwealth Games medal she said was hers for the taking.
The Christchurch hammer thrower qualified second for last night's final at a packed City of Manchester Stadium but could only manage sixth with
a throw of 60.43m.
It was 5m outside her personal best and more than 6m off the winner Lorraine Shaw, of England, who brought the house down with a Games record of 66.83m.
Williams, who turns 29 next week, qualified with a distance of 62.37m in the morning session and couldn't explain why she never got into the groove in the final in front of a crowd of 38,000.
She faced a large New Zealand media contingent and bravely kept her composure before seeking solace from Strange.
"I knew I could throw better than I did this morning. The medal was there for the taking," a tearful Williams said.
"I wanted to get some good throws away early to try and get rid of the nerves but I just couldn't hit any. I was more than capable of throwing more than 65m."
Williams, a former New Zealand women's rugby rep, denied there was any pressure on her after she was tipped as New Zealand's first medal hope at the Games.
- NZPA
