Poonia’s search for Rio mark continues

Krishna Poonia, the national record holder with 64.76m, opened with a foul throw but finished fourth with 57.15m at an athletics meet in Chula Vista, California.

The Olympics qualifying mark is 61m and Krishna Poonia has time till July 11 to make the grade.

Discus thrower Krishna Poonia’s struggle to qualify for the Rio Olympics continued as she finished fourth with 57.15m in the CVOTC Last Chance Qualifier athletics meet at Chula Vista, California, early on Monday (Sunday afternoon, US time).

Poonia, the national record holder with 64.76m who finished sixth at the 2012 London Olympics, opened with a foul throw and then a 54.42m effort before finding the day’s best with her last attempt.

American Whitney Ashley, who was ninth in the Beijing Worlds last year, won the event with 60.99m while her compatriots Liz Podominick (60.03) and Rachel Longfors (57.63) took the next two spots, ahead of Poonia.

The Olympics qualifying mark is 61m and Poonia has time till July 11 to make the grade.

Meanwhile, Federation Cup champion Srabani Nanda who was scheduled to run the women’s 200m at the Tatiana Kolpokova athletics meet at Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) on Sunday, did not start the event.