Commonwealth Games: Australia’s Alexandra Hulley wins silver in the hammer throw

SHE’S the most dominant junior hammer thrower in Australian history and now Alexandra Hulley is a Commonwealth Games silver medallist.

Australia’s Alexandra Hulley on her way to winning silver in the hammer throw at the Commonwealth Games.

SHE’S the most dominant junior hammer thrower in Australian history and now Alexandra Hulley is a Commonwealth Games silver medallist.

The 20-year-old university student from Sydney thrived in her senior debut, throwing 68.20m for second with teammate Lara Nielsen grabbing the bronze medal in 65.03m.

New Zealand’s Julia Ratcliffe won gold with a throw of 69.94m.

In the 400m semi-finals Anneliese Rubie produced a career best to become the first Australian woman in 12 years to make a Commonwealth Games final.

As rain swept Cararra Stadium, the 25-year-old dug deep late in her semi-final to finish third in a personal best time of 51.51sec.

Australia’s Alexandra Hulley on her way to winning silver in the hammer throw at the Commonwealth Games.

Jamaica’s defending champion Stephenie McPherson ensured the semi-final was the quickest of the night by setting a cracking pace in the first half which fell into the hands of the Australian.

Only the first two placegetters in the three semi-finals are automatic with the next two fastest making through which is what happened to Rubie.

“I actually almost cried when I saw the time and what it meant,” she said.

“I actually blocked out my body and just listened to the crowd, it made me feel 10 kilos lighter and ignore what was happening with my legs.”

Rubie has a link to a former Commonwealth 400m champion with her coach, Peter Fortune, the man who mentored Cathy Freeman to the crown in 1994.

“That was far from the perfect race, I think I have got a lot in me for the final,” Rubie said.

Morgan Mitchell surged late to grab third in the second semi-final but her time of 52.65sec was too slow to progress.

In the men’s 400m final Steve Solomon was unable to have an impact, finishing seventh (45.64sec) behind Botswana’s Isaac Makwala who claimed gold in 44.35sec from his countryman Baboloki Thebe (45.09sec).

Originally published as Commonwealth Games: Australia’s Alexandra Hulley wins silver in the hammer throw