DARTFORD athlete Julie Dunkley suffered a frustrating time in the women’s shot putt final in the Commonwealth Games.

She could only finish 10th overall, being eliminated after only three throws and failing to qualify for the top group of eight competing for the medals.

After a disappointing opening effort of only 14.95 metres, she improved to 15.03 and then 15.98, but still 44cm short of England team-mate Joanne Duncan, the final qualifier for the last eight.

Even matching the season’s best 16.14 she had thrown in the AAA Championships last year would not have been enough to qualify Dunkley, a 26-year-old teacher, for three further throws.

The gold went to Valerie Vili of New Zealand with a Commonwealth Games record 19.66, silver to Vivian Chukwuemeka, of Nigeria, 18.25, and bronze to Cleopatra Borel-Brown, of Trinidad, 17.87.