RACHEL HUNTER today vowed to improve on her showing in the hammer throw - and challenge for a medal in the final.

Ayr athlete Hunter qualified for the final of the event thanks to an attempt of 61.91m at Hampden yesterday afternoon.

But the 20-year-old student nurse still believes she can perform better tonight - thanks to the backing of the Scottish crowd.

She said: "I wasn't really pleased with how I threw it. I know I can throw a lot further. My technique wasn't really very good.

"I had a chat with my coach back at the athletes' village last night and we looked at where I can improve. If I can get it fixed I can throw a lot further. Anything can happen.

"My technique wasn't really great in qualifying, but I did enough to get through. That is all that I can ask for."

Hunter, who qualified for the final in sixth place, revealed the backing of the Hampden crowd had helped her to make the final.

She said: "I was standing in front of the cage and the stadium announcer said I was from Scotland. The whole place erupted.

"It is hard to explain how that feels. But I think that it gave me a lift. My whole family was there and to make the final and give something back to them is brilliant.

"Ayr Seaforth and them have supported me. I have to thank my coach Chris Black. He has been amazing and I wouldn't be here without him.

"My mum and dad and brother and sister were all here. There will be a lot of people coming tonight as well. Hopefully I don't let them down."

Susan McElvie of Edinburgh qualified in fifth place with a throw of 62.00m - but hit the net with her other two attempts.

She said: "I missed out on the Commonwealth Games in 2006 and 2010. I have waited so long to be a part of this.

"Things didn't go well for me in the circle. Two of my throws hit the net. But one throw turned out to be good enough."

Meanwhile, Chris Bennett has more reason that most to hope that he walks away with net gains from the Commonwealth Games.

The hammer thrower will go into today's qualification round ranked fifth among the entrants, the prospect of a medal driving the 24-year-old, like his fellow Scots Mark Dry and Andy Frost, to strive for new limits.

Yet next week, when the circus has left town, Bennett will be among those on the front line, either left to reap the benefits or to pick up the pieces.

One of the city's athletics development officers, he took a leave of absence to ready himself for the fray. Local clubs, he believes, are ready for an influx.

Bennett said: "London maybe shocked them a little bit. But now they're geared up for it.

"It's been a massive boost," he asserts. "Someone pointed out to me the other day, I'm the only Glaswegian-born, Glasgow-based who lives here who's on the team.

"Jax Thoirs is in America. So it's a little bit special for me with the home Games. I know there'll be some extra expectations on me.

"But you have to look at it and go, 'let's savour the moment'. Because when am I going to ever get another chance to compete at Hampden Park with 45,000 Scots cheering me on?"