Athletics: Exorcising memory of 1997 Hamish's aim

By Murray McKinnon

MONTE GORDO - New Zealand runner Hamish Christensen will cherish the moment when he lines up for the 1500m track heats at the world athletics championships in Seville this Saturday night.

Two years ago Christensen withdrew from the New Zealand team on the eve of the world championships in Athens after a virus had hampered his training in London and he decided not to travel to Greece.

"After what happened last time I more than ever wanted to make it to Seville, particularly after a good summer season," Christensen said in Monte Gordo, Portugal.

The 26-year-old knocked two seconds off his 800m time, won the national 800m title and set personal best times over 1500m with 3m 36.19s in Sydney and 3m 56.13s in the mile in Wanganui.

"Reducing the 800m time made a big difference in running 3m 36s for 1500m," he said.

Last year in major international competition, Christensen finished fifth in the World Cup 1500m in Johannesburg and sixth in the 1500m at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.

Christensen said he was reasonably happy with his lead-up races for the world championships.

He was fifth in the Belgian championships and 13th at the Barcelona meeting in 3m 38.92s.

He was looking forward to a fast time at the Hechtel meeting in Belgium two weeks ago, but fell after 300m, badly gashing his left arm on another runner's spikes.

The cut required 19 stitches, which were removed on Tuesday.

"I was disappointed not to finish the race in Hechtel," he said.

"It hurt my pride more than anything else as I have never pulled out of a race before. A dnf beside my name - I wasn't too happy about that."

The three times New Zealand track champion said that the cut on the arm has not hampered his training in Portugal, and he had completed some solid workouts on the track over 200m, 400m and 600m.

Ken Simpson, manager of the New Zealand team, is optimistic of some top performances from the small team of seven.

He said: "I have been most impressed with the team spirit and training programmes of each member.

"We're sticking to our goal of a medal, two in the top eight and four in the top 16."