WILL it be a case of third-time lucky for javelin thrower Goldie Sayers at this summer’s Olympics?

The Newmarket-born athlete is already throwing well over the Olympic ‘A qualifying’ standard of 61.5m, ahead of the UK Olympic Trials in Birmingham in which she competes on Sunday.

She launched an impressive 64.73m effort in the first round of the Diamond League meeting in Rome at the start of the month, her furthest since a personal best of 65.75m saw her miss out on a bronze medal by 38cm at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

‘The Suffolk Slinger’, who is targeting a tenth national title in a row at the trials this weekend, will cement her Olympic spot with a top-two finish.

She insists her best is yet to come.

“Everything is going well and it is nice to have landed a good distance quite early in the season,” said Sayers, 29.

“I have had a consistent season so far, training has gone well which is the most important thing and I am fit and healthy.

“I know I am capable of throwing further and I would say there are still things I can prove on technically but, as an athlete, you don’t want to be on form straight away.

“I think it will take a personal best again to medal this time.”

Winning in Birmingham is her main focus right now but the prestige of competing in front of her home fans has crossed her mind.

“It’s nice to have obtained the qualifying standard and I will be going for my tenth national title which is significant,” said Sayers.

“Athletes do not look too far ahead and we just have to take each competition as it comes.

“You have to treat the Olympics like any other tournament as you are competing against the same people but you can’t help thinking about it.

“The standard in the javelin has not levelled off since Beijing in 2008 and that competition is good for the sport.

“Sometimes sport goes in cycles and you get good years and bad years.

“I would think there would be six or seven of us, including the world record holder and current gold medallist, Barbora Spotakova, that have a chance of winning a medal”

Qualifying for the javelin begins on August 7 with the final taking place at the Olympic Stadium on August 9 at 9pm.

Sayers believes Great Britain has an exciting crop of youngsters that can exceed Team GB head coach Charles van Commenee’s target of eight track and field medals.

“I think we can do really well and I am quite excited about it,” said Sayers.

“We have got a lot of good youngsters coming through and I would not be surprised if we exceeded our medal target.”