Tatyana Shikolenko of Russia needed just one good throw to qualify for the women's javelin final at the World Athletics Championships in Paris on Thursday.

The 35-year-old former Belarus athlete, who was champion at the World University Games in 1991 and silver medallist at the 1998 European Championships and gold medallist at the European Cup 2002, hurled the spear 63.71 metres on her first attempt and registered the best distance in Group A.

With the qualification standard being 60.00 metres, only Laverne Eve of the Bahamas, Osleidys Menéndez of Cuba, Mikaela Ingberg of Finland and Steffi Nerius of Germany made the grade among the 10 competitors in the group.

Reigning champion Menéndez achieved the third best effort of 61.74 metres. All achieved the target with their first attempt.

But in Group B only three athletes could achieve the qualifying mark. Miréla Manjani of Greece led the charge from the group with a throw of 62.48 metres. She was followed by Sonia Bicet of Cuba (60.64m) and Valeriya Zabruskova of Russia (60.40m).

As a result, the four next best throwers also gained berths in the final lineup. Nikolett Szabó of Hungary (59.84m) and Ning Ma of China (58.95m) went through from Group A while Claudia Coslovich of Italy (59.57m) and Taina Kolkkala of Finland (58.94m) made the grade from Group B.

The qualifiers, with distance cleared, are:

Tatyana Shikolenko	RUS	63.71m
Laverne Eve	BAH	62.89
Miréla Manjani	GRE	62.48
Osleidys Menéndez	CUB	61.74
Mikaela Ingberg	FIN	60.89
Sonia Bicet	CUB	60.64
Valeriya Zabruskova	RUS	60.40
Steffi Nerius	GER	60.40
Nikolett Szabó	HUN	59.84
Claudia Coslovich	ITA	59.57
Taina Kolkkala	FIN	58.94
Ning Ma	CHN	58.95

Photograph: Getty Images