Australia's javelin medal hope injured

Australia's javelin gold medal hope Louise Currey was taken from Sydney's Olympic Stadium on a stretcher on Thursday with a knee ligament injury.

Currey, the 1996 Olympic silver medallist who is ranked number two in the world behind Norway's Trine Hattestad, won the national championship with her second throw of 63.59 metres but broke down on her next attempt.

Australian team doctor Chris Bradshaw said it looked to be a "very serious injury" although a scan on Friday would reveal more.

Australian coach Chris Wardlaw admitted he had a "panic attack" when told Currey, who won her medal in Atlanta as Louise McPaul, had collapsed in pain with the suspected cruciate ligament tear to her left knee.

But Bradshaw said it was possible for Currey to carry the injury into the Games, which start on September 15.

Currey's Australian rival Joanna Stone, a silver medallist in the 1997 world championships, aggravated a rib injury and is also in some doubt for the Games.

"I'm confident we can probably treat that (rib injury) and get it right," Bradshaw said.

Wardlaw said he was very disappointed for both athletes.

"It's now up to the medicos to see what we can do," Wardlaw said.

Stone was second to Currey with a throw of 52.86, putting both straight into the Olympic team, fitness permitting.

Sixteen-year-old schoolgirl Georgie Clarke meanwhile was the third Australian home in the 1,500 metres and will have to rely on the selectors' discretion to get into the team.

Clarke boasts the fastest time by an Australian in the event this year, four minute 06.77 seconds in January.

Marg Crowley, 33, a mother of one who was fifth in Atlanta, was the first Australian home in 4:13.25 ahead of Sarah Jamieson. Both are automatic selections.

New Zealander Toni Hodgkinson, running as a guest, won the race in 4.13.09.

"I was a little too aggressive too early and peaked too early," said Clarke, who is aiming to become one of Australia's youngest athletics Olympians.

"You learn more from races you lose than races you win and I hope I learn from that today," she said.

Crowley said the past few months had been "very stressful".

"I didn't know I'd made the team until I crossed the line. I know this will be my last Olympics so it's good to be able to get a last shot," she said.