Athletics: Adams and Willis leading New Zealand's medal charge

Valerie Adams is chasing a third consecutive title. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand should come away from the World Championships in Athletics, which start in Daegu, South Korea, today, with one if not two medals.

Valerie Adams will be going for a shot-put three-peat, after winning in 2007 in Osaka and 2009 in Berlin.

Olympic silver medallist Nick Willis comes into the championships with every chance of a podium placing in the 1500m.

Brent Newdick is first up for New Zealand today in the decathlon.

Adams will be confident as she attempts to emulate German great Astrid Kumbernuss and secure her third consecutive gold. She has relished her move to live and train for much of the year in Switzerland with coach, Jean-Pierre Egger.

She will be up against long-time rival Nadzeya Ostapchuk, the world leader this year with 20.94m. Ostapchuk has a 16-13 lifetime edge over the World and Olympic champion but Adams has had a stellar season, winning the last five competitions against the Belarusian including their four meetings this year.

Adams will have the preliminary rounds of the shot put tomorrow with the final timed for 11.40pm (NZ time) on Monday.

Silas Kiplagat of Kenya is the favourite for the 1500m, after clocking a world-leading 3m 30.47s and a 3m 31.39s at altitude to win the Kenyan title.

The 1500m this year has been dominated by Kenyan runners who have produced the season's five fastest times. Kiplagat, Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop and Daniel Kipchirchir Komen will be keen to land Kenya their first 1500m championship gold medal.

However, tactics play a big part when it comes to championships and Willis, who set a New Zealand record of 3m 31.79s last month, is capable of being among the medals at the finish. He competes in the heats on Tuesday afternoon, with the semifinals on Friday evening and the final next Saturday at 11.15pm.

Newdick, the silver medallist in the decathlon at last year's Delhi Commonwealth Games will be chasing the points over the 10 events, striving to better his best of 8114 achieved in Austria in May.

Other medallists from Delhi in action will be Nikki Hamblin in the 800m and 1500m and Stuart Farquhar in the javelin throw.

In Barcelona last month, Hamblin set a New Zealand 1500m record of 4m 4.82s, at the same meeting where Adrian Blincoe qualified for the 5000m with a 13m 18.27s.

Jake Robertson will join Blincoe in the 5000m and Quentin Rew will compete in the 50km road walk next Saturday morning.