Poland's Wlodarczyk leads hammer throw qualifying, Campbell and Bingson advance

At 75.01 meters, Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland threw the furthest in the women's hammer throw qualifying Wednesday at the World Track and Field Championships in Beijing. Wlodarczyk turned 30 on Aug. 8 and set the world record at 81.08 meters on Aug. 1 in Cetniewo, Poland, becoming the first woman to break the 80-meter barrier. She is the two-time defending European champion, 2009 World champion, 2012 Olympic silver medalist, and 2013 World silver medalist. She placed sixth in the 2008 Olympics at the Bird's Nest, site of Thursday's final.

Amber Campbell, the 34-year-old American, is back in the world final for the first time since Berlin 2009, where she placed 11th. Campbell, of Indianapolis, threw 72.06 meters on her first attempt. She is a three-time U.S. champion, including the most recent, and threw in the qualifying round at the London Olympics and past two World Championships.

"I wanted to hit the marks I've been hitting in practice, and it worked out pretty well, I'll take it," Campbell said. "It's been a while, but I'm very stoked. I have a whole different outlook on things, my confidence is high, it's been a very good year.

Amanda Bingson, 25 from Las Vegas, was 11th in qualifying, making the cut by 0.33 meters with a throw of 69.99 of her final attempt after fouling the second. The third American, NCAA champion DeAnna Price of Southern Illinois University, missed her first two attempts before throwing 68.69 on her third to finish 18th.

"She's a solid girl, I'll feel she'll do great tomorrow," Campbell said of Bingson. "Had to sneak in there."

The other qualifiers are: Alexandra Tavernier of France (the 2012 World Junior champion recorded a personal best 74.39), Wang Zheng of China (was fourth in 2013 and threw 73.06 Wednesday), Zhang Wenxiu of China (72.92, the three-time defending Asian Games champion won bronze in this event in 2007, 2011 and 2013, plus the 2008 Olympics), Zalina Marghieva of Moldova, Kathrin Klaas of Germany (fourth in 2009), Sophie Hitchon of Great Britain (2010 world junior champion), Betty Heidler of Germany (former world record holder won gold in 2007, silver in 2009 and 2011, and Olympic bronze in 2012), Rosa Rodriguez of Venezuela, and Alena Sobaleva of Belarus.