The IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada started on Monday and the women's hammer throw qualification round was the first event on Thursday in the midst of terrential downpour and a few competition delays.  Shelby Ashe (St. Pius X, Atlanta, GA) and Lauren Chambers (University of Southern California via Kell, Marietta, GA) represented the United States at the meet.  Unfortunately, both athletes had some foul trouble in the face of the rough conditions and did not able to place in the top 12 and advance to the finals.  Ashe placed the highest, finishing in 24th out of 34 competitors.  Her one legal throw measured 165'11", well off of her national high school  and junior record.  Chambers, who also briefly held the national junior record this spring, finished in 29th with a best of 151'0" and only had one legal mark.

The best qualifies were favorites Li Zhang of China and Sophie Hitchon of Great Britain. Both threw the automatically qualifying mark on their first attempt. Zhang produced the best mark with a throw of 64.02m (210'0"). Barabara Spiler of Slovenia, another pre-competition favorite, also easily moved through. However, world leader Yirisleydi Ford fouled out. Complete results are available here. The top 12 will compete again on Saturday in the final.  The men's qualifying round, featuring Americans Conor McCullough, the reigning silver medalist, and Justin Welch (Eastwood, Pemberville, OH).

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