SIX MONTHS ago surgeons told Kathryn Mitchell she would be a 50-50 chance of making the Australian track and field team for the world championships.
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Overnight in Moscow, Mitchell went out and threw a season's best of 63.77 metres in the opening round of javelin final and proudly finished fifth.
It was an impressive result for the Ballarat athlete, who had ankle surgery in February to remove a bone spur.
She flew to Europe in early June in a bid to throw a qualifer by the July deadline and three-times made a B-qualifying distance that was enough to capture a place in the Australian Flames squad.
"A little bit further would have been great but, with my technique, that is where I'm at," Mitchell said.
"It was great to get one out.
"A season's best was the target for the final as well so I have really ticked every box.
"There was nothing more I could have done."
Mitchell relocated from her hometown of Casterton, in Western Victoria, to Ballarat late in her secondary school studies to further her athletics.
She plans to make Ballarat her home base again when she returns from Europe.
Mitchell threw a foul on her second attempt and 60.34m on the third and retained a top-eight ranking with her opening throw to earn another three throws.
She threw 62.19m on her fourth attempt, a foul and and 62.23m on her final attempt.
