Sophie Hitchon has raised her UK U20 hammer record beyond the 60 metre mark at a major throws meeting at Halle in Germany on Saturday.

The Blackburn Harrier, who won't be 17 until July, threw 60.73metres on her final throw to set an undisputed record.

Three weeks earlier she had cleared 60.42m for her club at a Northern League Meeting at South Leeds, but it was not ratified as a record for the want of a steel tape.

Sophie, who has just been presented with the Rising Star Award by Burnley Borough's sporting community, is now fifth in the UK senior rankings with Zoe Derham leading the way with 66.39m.

Myra Perkins, who rates second in the U20s, is a full nine metres behind Sophie with 51.67m.

l Anna Pichrtova has failed in her bid to run in her second Olympic Marathon.

The Czech star, who celebrated her 35th birthday last week, needed a sub 2:37 time at last Sunday's Ottawa Marathon in Canada, but could "only" manage 2:39:44. Asmae Leghazoui of Morocco set a course record of 2:28:43 as Pichrtova finished sixth.

After living and training in Clitheroe for the past few weeks, Anna will return for a few days before going home.