British javelin champion Goldie Sayers had a disastrous competition in Osaka as she failed to reach the final.

Sayers was seen as a strong chance for a medal in the Far East, but the Belgrave Harrier looked uncomfortable throughout her qualifying round and managed just 57.23m.

Sayers had headed to Osaka confident of challenging for a place on the podium after breaking the British record at the Loughborough International meeting in May with a throw of 65.05m.

She also she finished ahead of all three medallists from last year's European Championships with an effort on 63.59m in rainy conditions in Glasgow and threw more than 63m at the UK trials in Manchester.

But the 25-year-old again failed to produce on the big stage after finishing a disappointing fifth at the 2006 Commonwealth Games with a throw of 57.29m before an equally below-par 54.70m saw her finish 12th and last in the final of the European Championships in Gothenburg.

"My legs were just not attached to the rest of my body today, to be honest I did not sleep a wink last night and whether that had something to do with it I had no idea. I just felt absolutely flat and couldn't wake my legs up," she said.

"My legs were so dead and I couldn't attack the line, I feel really tired and I did not have it in my legs at all. I feel I belong in the final with the way I have been throwing all year, but it would have taken a miracle to be in it."