Athletics: Faumuina, Blincoe qualify with solid performances

Beatrice Faumuina took just one throw in her heat to qualify for the discus finals at the world track and field championships in Paris.

New Zealand team manager Tony Rogers said Faumuina threw 63m on her first throw, easily passing the qualifying distance of 60m.

It was the third-best throw of the qualifying round.

The final starts at 6.20am tomorrow (NZ time).

Middle-distance runner Adrian Blincoe qualified for the 1500m semifinal by winning his heat - one of three - in a time of 3m 47.26s.

"He won his heat in solid form, in a tactically brilliant race," Rogers said.

Blincoe will race in a semifinal at 7.05am tomorrow (NZT).

Unlucky among the New Zealanders competing yesterday was pole vaulter Melina Hamilton.

She vaulted four metres, but failed to clear 4.15m and did not qualify.

Rogers said Hamilton's preparation had been hampered in the lead-up to the event by an ankle injury suffered about a fortnight ago, and that she was unlucky on the day.

- NZPA