Athletics: Thirds for Willis and Farquhar

Medal hope: Nick Willis. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Javelin thrower Stuart Farquhar has posted his best international result, placing third at the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm, Sweden today.

Farquhar threw 84.21 metres in the second round, just 1 metre below his best.

The competition was won by Farquhar's part time training partner, Olympic and World Champion Andreas Thorkildsen from Norway with a big throw of 88.3 metres, the world's best for 2011.

Farquhar's performance easily beat the London 2012 Olympic selection standard of 81.80 metres.

Nick Willis also picked up a podium finish in the 1500 metres with his best result of the season, finishing third just half a second behind winner Silas Kiplagat of Kenya.

Willis' 3min 34.49sec time was slower than his two recent 1500 metres races in Paris and Monaco.

Yesterday Valerie Adams took another victory over Nadezhda Ostapchuk in the Shot Put at the event, putting 20.57 metres to the Belarusian's 20.37 metres.

- NZPA