Athletics: Top form earns places in Paris

Athletics New Zealand has named an initial team of 13 for the world track and field championships to be held in Paris in August.

Top-ranked athletes Beatrice Faumuina (discus) and Craig Barrett (50km walk) head the team.

They are supported by Valerie Adams, who will be attending her first senior world championships, competing in the shot put.

Promising Canterbury athletes Melina Hamilton (pole vault) and Rebecca Wardell (400m hurdles) have been included after recent excellent form in New Zealand and across the Tasman.

The other individuals in the team are Gabrielle Gorst (20km walk) and Jonathan Wyatt (10,000m).

Six additional athletes named are members of the men's 4x100m relay squad who have performed better than any previous New Zealand team during the domestic season here or in Australia.

Four of the women in the team have broken national records in the past few months, Faumuina being the only exception.

Wyatt has been given the nod in the 10,000m at this stage as national champion after a fast time in Inglewood in February.

His 2h 13m marathon in Hamburg on Sunday may change the options for him.

As the Northern Hemisphere season begins, performance manager Tony Rogers expects a number of athletes to bid for selection up until July.

Leading that charge will be the likes of Michael Aish, who recorded a strong performance over 5000m last year, and Michigan-based Nick Willis, who recently recorded top times of 2m 49.7s for the 1200m and 1m 47.4s for the 800m in the Penn Relays.

The Villanova-based pair of Nic O'Brien (400m hurdles) and Adrian Blincoe (1500m and 5000m) are also strong contenders.

The team

* Valerie Adams (Auckland) shot put.

* Craig Barrett (Waikato-BOP) 50km walk.

* Beatrice Faumuina (Auckland) discus.

* Gabrielle Gorst (Hawkes Bay-Gisborne) 20km walk.

* Melina Hamilton (Canterbury) pole vault.

* Rebecca Wardell (Canterbury) 400m hurdles.

* Jonathan Wyatt (Wellington) 10,000m.

* Men's 4x100m relay: Chris Donaldson (Otago), James Dolphin (North), David Falealili (Wellington), Donald MacDonald (North), James Mortimer (North), Dallas Roberts (Otago).

- NZPA