Athletics: Hodgkinson in games countdown mode

By MURRAY McKINNON

Toni Hodgkinson's eight-month campaign towards the Sydney Olympics begins in earnest in Christchurch this evening in a top-billing 800m race.

The opening meeting in the Marley Games will feature the women's 800m as the last event on the programme with Hodgkinson facing two tough opponents in Tamsyn Lewis of Australia and Mozambique's Tina Paulino.

Hodgkinson is keen to secure a first-up victory which will set her on the right track for a 1500m race in Wanganui on Saturday and a further 800m in Papakura tomorrow week.

"I'm going after the wins rather than chasing times," said Hodgkinson. "Tamsyn and Tina are both in good shape, so they should be fast races."

The Atlanta Olympic 800m finalist is pleased with her training and form.

"I ran 4m 13s for 1500m and last week in training had a good 600m time trial," she said.

Interestingly, Hodgkinson last raced against Lewis in the Algarve, Portugal over 400m, just before the Seville world athletics championships. Lewis won in 53.2s to Hodgkinson's 55.9.

At Seville, Hodgkinson ran the first heat of the women's 800m, finishing sixth in 2m 2.18s. Lewis ran the next heat, also taking sixth in 2m 3.03s.

In Canberra on Saturday Lewis broke the two-minute barrier for the first time with 1m 59.2s.

Paulino, the 1998 Commonwealth Games 800m silver medalist, has a best time of 1m 56.62s.

At last year's Marley Games, Paulino won the 1000m in Christchurch, the 1500m in Wanganui and the 800m in 2m 1.80s at Papakura.

Hodgkinson, with a best of 1m 58.25s in Atlanta in 1996, will need to run 2m 00.50s to qualify for Sydney.

If this does not come in the Marley series there will be opportunities next month on the Australian grand prix circuit.

"I have two indoor meetings in the States early next month, 800m at the Millrose Games in New York and 1000m in Boston."

Hodgkinson then sees her next major outdoor 800m coming in Sydney on February 13.

In the men's 800m, Shaun Farrell will face his first big test since withdrawing from last year's world championships with a stress fracture of the shin.

"I had 14 weeks off to recover, then a month in the pool and on weights, so this race is to see where I am at," said Farrell.

Bryan Berryhill from Colorado State University, with a best of 1m 46.9s, is keen to carry on from his success in the series last year. Another angling for a fast time is Canterbury's Mark Rodgers.

Beatrice Faumuina competes in the discus while Chris Donaldson will be up against American Jake Jensen in the 100m and 200m. Gene Pateman of Counties also comes into the 200m with a fast 20.82s to his credit this season.