OLYMPIAN Goldie Sayers is set to compete in Turin, buoyed by a throw of 61.61 metres – her best ever start to the season - at the CAU Inter-Counties Championship.

The distance was all the more remarkable because it came only eight weeks after the 28-year-old UK javelin record holder underwent knee surgery following an accidental injury in the gym while she was warm weather training in America.

“I was really pleased with the throw especially as conditions were so blustery and I’m confident there’s a lot more to come. Post op I had only thrown off a full run-up three times and it takes a while to get the timing right,” said the former King’s Ely student.

Her 61.61m throw puts her eighth in the world rankings, and beyond the 61.50m qualifying distance for the World Championships in Daegu, Korea, on the first two days of September which is her main goal of the season.

Meanwhile her aim is to improve her world ranking when she competes for her country at the European Team Championships in Stockholm on 18 June.

Goldie was placed fourth at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing when she set a new UK record of 65.75m.