Athletics: Adams blitzes field by more than 4.5m

SYDNEY - Shot putter Valerie Adams again proved she is without peer in Australasia by swamping her rivals at the Australian national championships yesterday.

The Commonwealth Games silver medallist provided a golden conclusion for the New Zealand contingent at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre, winning by a massive margin of 4.59m.

Her first throw of 18.96m equalled her national record and again comfortably exceeded the International Olympic Committee A qualifying standard (18.55m) for Athens.

Adams followed her winning throw with a foul and four more 18m-plus efforts.

Her closest challenger, South Australia's Alifatou Djibril, had a best of 14.37m.

The 19-year-old Adams unleashed her record-equalling throw despite having just two minor club meets in New Zealand as preparation.

"There's simply no competition for her in Australia or New Zealand," said Athletics New Zealand high performance manager Tony Rogers after her emphatic victory.

In a bid to find stiffer competition before Athens, Adams leaves today for Hungary and the world indoor championships in Budapest.

She will be accompanied by pole vaulter Melina Hamilton, who finished third in her event.

Hamilton narrowly missed clearing 4.25m and needs 4.40m to bank a second A standard.

New Zealand also had success in the 4x100 women's relay, where Sarah Phillips, Monique Williams, Jane Arnott and Chantal Brunner crossed second behind Australia A.

Nic O'Brien grabbed silver in the open 400m hurdles final, while Angela McKee's best of 1.82m earned bronze in the open high jump.

The 100-strong New Zealand contingent had a successful Saturday, the seniors providing two golds and three more bronze to go with Hamilton's.

Beatrice Faumuina retained her discus title, while Chantal Brunner was third in the long jump.

Stuart Farquhar won bronze in the javelin with a 72.58m throw.

Melbourne-based Rebecca Wardell and Sonja Bowe took gold and bronze respectively in the women's 400m hurdles, taking advantage of the absence of world champion Jana Pittman.

In the juniors, Monique Williams completed the under-20 200m-400m double, qualifying for July's world junior championships in both events. Todd Mansfield and Jeffrey Thumath did likewise in the 200m.

- NZPA