Yipsi Moreno leads Women's Hammer Throw prelims

(BEIJING, August 18) -- Cuban Yipsi Moreno led a field of strong contenders with 73.92m in the Women's Hammer Throw at the National Stadium on August 18.

The Athens 2004 Olympic Games silver medalist boasts a personal best of 76.36m and multiple world championship medals. She won golds in the 2001 and 2003 World Championships and finished second in 2005 and 2007.

China's Zhang Wenxiu threw the second furthest on Monday, marking 73.36m, while Martina Hrasnova of Slovakia followed with 72.87m to take third place going into the final.

Germany's Betty Heidler, who won the World Championships in Osaka and also set a national record of 76.55m, struck 71.51m to advance.

Darya Pchelnik of Belarus sits third in the world rankings, with a personal best throw of 76.33m. She passed through the prelims with 71.30m.

Her compatriot Aksana Miankova leads the 2008 world rankings with her national record of 77.32m, the third best throw of all time. She threw 69.77m to qualify for the final.

The Women's Hammer Throw final is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8) on August 20 at the National Stadium.