Cork's Nicola Tuthill reaches European final but is left wanting more

Tuthill qualified eighth for Wednesday's hammer throw final

Nicola Tuthill: “I’ll look back at the videos and see what little changes need to be made and hopefully be able to throw a bit further in the final than I did tonight." Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Advanced, if not much satisfied.

Such is the high bar Nicola Tuthill has set for herself in this still infant hammer-throwing existence of hers, qualification alone for a second European final did not fully please the Kilbrittain native.

Advancing eighth into Wednesday’s 12-woman final, what slightly irked the 22-year-old was only besting the 70m paint with one of her three throws.

That 70.09m second throw, ultimately, comfortably progressed her. She wanted more, though. She wanted farther. She also didn’t want two 67m-throws on her card.

Still, it was job done.

“Hopefully, throw far,” Tuthill replied when asked what she now wants from Wednesday.

“I’ll look back at the videos and see what little changes need to be made and hopefully be able to throw a bit further in the final than I did tonight.

“They could have been better,” she said in assessment of her qualifying performance. 

For context, her lifetime best, recorded in June, stands at 72.73m.

“To be honest, they weren’t perfect. A low-70 wouldn’t be an amazing mark for me. It is probably my worst or second worst of the year. Within three throws, it is decent.

“The last two competitions I have competed at, I haven’t hit 70m in my first three throws. I knew I needed to do that out here, and thankfully I did. It has got me my spot in the final and I am excited to go out and compete again.” 

Excited also to go back out in front of the sizable Irish support that has travelled across.

“Even just walking out before I started, there were Irish flags everywhere. One of the girls asked me, ‘Was all of Ireland here?’ So it is special to be able to come back out a second time. I am really excited for Wednesday. European final is always a special one.”