Athletics: Brunner out to prove a point

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Chantal Brunner has a been-there-done-that background heading into the world track and field championships, but the pressure is just as intense for the Counties Manukau long jumper.

While she is the only member of the six-strong New Zealand team at the championships - which start in Edmonton, Canada, today - to have qualified for next year's Manchester Commonwealth Games, Brunner has other demons to exorcise.

Since finishing 12th at her first world championships in Gothenburg in 1995, Brunner failed to get beyond the qualifying round at the 1997 and 1999 championships and last year's Olympics.

But she can go into her qualifying competition on Monday (8.30 am NZ time) with some confidence after equalling her 6.68m New Zealand record in Brisbane in March, her best effort in four years.

While she has shown good speed in building towards the championships, the 30-year-old, five-times national long jump champion has had some technique concerns since arriving in Canada.

She is hoping this week's arrival of her husband and coach, Jonathon Moyle, will help to overcome those doubts.

Brunner will be the fourth New Zealander in action. Phil Costley's decision to withdraw from the marathon, scheduled to start at 12.45 pm (NZT) today, leaves national pole vault champion Jenni Dryburgh as the first Kiwi to compete.

The 22-year-old Dryburgh, sixth in her international debut with a 3.90m vault at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, has taken her best to 4.35m.

While she had 18 days in the lead-up to these championships without a pole in her hand as she struggled with a slight Achilles strain, she is rounding nicely to form, having just missed 4.20m at a meeting in Calgary.

Dryburgh, who has her qualifying rounds at 2.45 am (NZT) tomorrow, will be followed into the stadium a little over 24 hours later by former Southlander and now, like Dryburgh, North Harbour Bays athlete Jane Arnott.

Both are trained by New Zealand team coach, former Russian international Elena Vinogradova.

Arnott, who struggled a little in the altitude of Calgary at the eight-day training camp before going to Edmonton, lines up in the heats of the 400m (3.50 am Monday NZT).

"It will be a big test for Jane," team manager Ken Simpson said. "She looks in the best form of her life. She was a little frustrated that the fields in meets at Ottawa and Montreal were not strong enough to pull her through to the times she was looking for."

John Henwood, who carries New Zealand hopes in the 10,000m, also struggled at altitude in a 3000m race, but has trained well since.

It is expected that heats will be required for the 10,000m, but the draw has yet to be made.

Henwood, 29, like Brunner from the Counties Manukau Club, has a 25m 57.5s best. If he can run close to that, he should get through.

The 10,000m heats will be run at 5.25 am (NZT) on Monday.

National hammer champion and record-holder Tasha Williams - unbeaten at the national championships since 1996 and having broken the national record 17 times since January 1998 - has shown solid lead-up form.

"If she can get over her competitive nerves she could be up there," Simpson said. "Tasha has had several throws over 65m [her national record is 65.91m]. The feeling is that a 68m throw is just waiting to happen."

Williams steps into the cage for her qualifying throws early on Tuesday morning.

Craig Barrett, in the 50km road walk, will be the last of the Kiwi sextet in action.

Barrett has completed his preparation in New Zealand and will join the team tomorrow, almost a week before he lines up in what again promises to be a competitive field.

His eighth placing at the 1999 world championships in Seville, Spain, is the best effort by any team member, and was followed by a gutsy 18th at the Sydney Olympics.

If the 29-year-old Barrett, who competes at 2 am (NZT) tomorrow week, can get close to his best of 3h 48m 14s, the Hamiltonian could again snatch a top-10 finish and post a Commonwealth Games qualifier.

Athletics New Zealand have predicted a team of around 24 for the Commonwealth Games. Some see about half that number as more realistic.

Performances in Edmonton over the next 10 days should give an early indication of just how many will carry Kiwi hopes next year.