Gwen Berry earned a Rio 2016 place in the hammer after returning from a three-month doping ban ©Getty Images

Hammer throwing, for the first time ever, took centre stage at Hayward Field on the seventh day of action at the US Olympic Track and Field trials - and Gwen Berry, who returned from a three-month doping suspension that ended just before the trials, earned a Rio 2016 place behind winner Amber Campbell and third-placed Deanna Price. 

Berry broke the US record with a throw of 76.31m in May, but the record was rescinded when it was revealed that she has used a prohibited medication in an asthma inhaler at the International Association of Athletics Federations’ World Indoor Championships in Portland, where she competed in the hammer throwers’ indoor event, the weight throw.

Berry did not test positive, but she admitted in her paperwork that she was taking a banned substance and she subsequently lost out on bonuses associated with her record throw and US indoor weight throw title.

"I feel a lot of things were taken from me this season," Berry said. 

"I had an amazing season and got in trouble for something small.

"I wanted to make the team to prove to the world I was here because of my talent and because of God, and not because of an inhaler or any cheating or any doping."

Several thousand fans turned out on a sunny afternoon for the men’s and women’s competitions.

Amber Campbell spins to victory and a Rio 2016 place in the hammer at the US Olympic Track and Field trials at Hayward Field ©Getty Images
Amber Campbell spins to victory and a Rio 2016 place in the hammer at the US Olympic Track and Field trials at Hayward Field ©Getty Images

In the course of the women’s event the Campbell’s 2012 meeting record was bettered five times, twice by Berry, although Campbell claimed her fourth US title with a best of 74.03 on her last attempt.

Berry and Deanna Price both finished with a best of 73.09.

After a competition which had been conducted inside the stadium rather than on its customary site on an adjacent field, Campbell commented:"To be able to compete in the centre at Hayward, in the middle of the day with an amazing crowd, there is nothing like it.

"Well, maybe the Olympics - but this was awesome too."

Amanda Bingson, whose US record of 75.73 remains, missed out on an automatic Rio trip by one place with a best of 70.30.

Rudy Winkler won the men’s hammer with 76.76, ahead of Kibwe Johnson, with 75.11, and Conor McCullough, with 74.16, but none have yet achieved the Olympic qualifying mark of 77.00m metres and must wait to see if they earn places in Rio at the IAAF’s invitation following consultation of rankings.