Kara Patterson takes fourth in Rome Diamond League meet...

ROME, Italy--American record holder Kara Patterson (left/photo by Paul Merca) from Vancouver finished fourth in the women's javelin at the Compeed Golden Gala meeting Thursday night in the Italian capital with a throw of 205-11 (62.76m), as Maria Abukamova of Russia took the victory with a mark of 214-7 (65.40m).

After the competition, she said on her Twitter page, "Got passed in the last round and didn't respond well, but I'm pretty happy. For now."

One consolation is that she now has the "A" standard needed to compete in Daegu this summer.

In the women's discus, US Olympic veteran Aretha Thurmond from Federal Way, the Renton HS & University of Washington graduate, finished fifth with a mark of 202-4 (61.68m).

Sandra Perkovic of Croatia took the victory with a mark of 215-1 (65.56m), followed by Cuba's Yarelis Barrios at 210-7 (64.18m) and Nadine Muller with 207-3 (63.17m).

Running in lane 7, Rainier Beach HS grad Ginnie Crawford finished 12.89 in seventh, as Dawn Harper wins in a season best of 12.70.

Jamaica's Usain Bolt opened up his 2011 campaign, winning the featured 100m dash in 9.91, running down countryman Asafa Powell (9.93) in the last 20 meters.

Complete results from the Compeed Golden Gala meet are available here.