Athletics: Faumuina heads group of athletes named for Athens

1.00pm

Commonwealth and former world champion Beatrice Faumuina heads the first contingent of five track and field athletes named today in the New Zealand team for the Athens Olympics.

The discus thrower will be returning to the venue of her greatest triumph when she appears in her third Olympics in August.

Faumuina claimed the world title in Athens in 1997. Since then she has won gold at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games. Also named today were shot putter Valerie Adams, walker Craig Barrett, and marathon runners Dale Warrander and Jonathon Wyatt.

Adams, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist in Manchester two years ago, make a bit of history during her event.

She will become one of the first sportswomen in history to set foot in the birthplace of the Olympic Games at Olympia.

The venue was used for the ancient Olympics, beginning in 776BC, but competition then was for men only.

Barrett, who was also a Manchester silver medallist, will line up in his third Olympic Games after being confirmed in the 50km walk.

Three-time world mountain running champion Wyatt and Warrander will compete in the marathon starting in the town of Marathon and following the original route to finish in the 1896 Olympic stadium. The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) said further track and field athletes could be added depending on performances over the coming weeks.

NZOC secretary-general Barry Maister described the confirmed squad as small but strong.

"Although it numbers just five at present, it is a team packed with talent and it shows just how tough the international standards are for track and field," he said.

"We believe this group will perform with great credit at Athens."

Athletics New Zealand performance manager Tony Rogers said he was confident the number of New Zealand track and field competitors in Athens could increase to around 10 or 12.

The cut-off date for consideration is July 21, just over three weeks before the games begin.

Before then, a number of serious contenders would in action in the United States, where the season was just beginning, Rogers said.

Among those were long-distance track runners John Henwood, Michael Aish and Kimberley Smith, 1500m hopeful Adrian Blincoe and pole vaulter Melina Hamilton.

Last weekend, Henwood went inside the Olympic A qualify time for the 10,000m when clocking a personal best 27min 45.98sec at a meet at Stanford University.

- NZPA