Athletics: Barrett puts best foot forward

By Murray McKinnon


New Zealand's two leading athletes, Craig Barrett and Beatrice Faumuina, had successful season-opening outings at the weekend at the start of their Sydney Olympic Games campaigns.

In Hamilton yesterday, Barrett won the New Zealand 50km road walk title in a moderate time of 4h 13m 33s.

At North Shore's Sovereign Stadium on Saturday, Faumuina, competing for her Auckland City club in the New Zealand league qualifying meeting won the shot put with 14.39m and the discus, throwing 60.89m.

The athlete of the year, Barrett, had the race to himself, with Hastings' Gabrielle Gorst finishing over an hour later in second place.

"My goal was to regain the title again. I didn't contest the event last year and I'm happy with this today," Barrett said.

Faumuina dominated the league meeting in which the field events outshone the track performances.

New Zealand under-18 javelin champion and Oceania under-18 champion Andrea McBridge, from Waitakere, went close to her season's best last year with 41.57m, nearly three metres further than second-placed Joanne Henry.

Ian Winchester threw the discus out to 57.84m. Pat Hellier showed top form with 50.01m and later won the shot put with 15.32m, while Diggory Brooke showed good early-season form in the javelin, hurling it out to 71.25m.

Johnathan Schmidt was fractionly faster than Callum Stuart over the 400m hurdles in 53.40s, while Gene Pateman was sharp over 200m, edging out Ben Potter in 22.15s.

Junior athlete of the year Demelza Murrihy, of Taumarunui, won the women's 800m in 2m 16.10s, while in the sprints, Shelly Avery was the fastest over 100m in 12.31s and national 200m and 400m champion, Jane Arnott, won the 200m in 25.30s.