Women look for final push to leave medal target a distant memory

Britain's athletes have already met their Olympic target of six medals but hope for another three on the final weekend of the games.

The team are currently third in the medal table behind the United States and Russia and have high hopes today of Kelly Holmes in the 1500 metres, Paula Radcliffe in the 10,000m and the women's 4x400m relay squad.

Radcliffe, the team captain and world championship silver medallist, hopes to draw inspiration from Holmes's fantastic bronze medal in the 800m last Monday. "In my eyes Kelly's bronze was the best of the lot," she said. "After what's she been through, getting a medal was the most brilliant performance so far."

Radcliffe believes Ireland's Sonia O'Sullivan has a psychological edge over her and the rest of the field, including the world champion Gete Wami of Ethiopia, after her second place in the 5,000m. "Sonia already has a silver medal and that means she can go into the final without a care in the world."

For once it is Britain's women, rather than the men, who line up as medal favourites in the 4x400m relay, where they will have to face the United States, who will have the individual 100m and 200m champion Marion Jones competing, and a Cathy Freeman-inspired Australia.

But the British quartet of Helen Frost, Donna Fraser, Allison Curbishley and Katharine Merry are a threat to anyone. "This is our team; we wanted to get it right," said Curbishley. "We could get a medal. I've never been in a team with such fantastic spirit."

In the women's hammer final the British record holder Lorraine Shaw narrowly failed to qualify for the last eight who receive three extra throws. The British record holder finished ninth with 64.27m, almost three metres short of her best.

Victory went to 17-year-old Pole Kamila Skolimowska with an Olympic record throw of 71.16m. Russia's Olga Kuzenkova took the silver medal with 69.77m and Germany's Kirsten Münchow claimed the bronze with 69.28m.

The games close tomorrow with the men's marathon, where Jon Brown is among the dark horses. The Canadian-based Sheffield runner thinks if his plan goes right he too may clinch a medal.