Athletics: Vili, Faumuina top contenders

World-ranked Throwers Valerie Vili and Beatrice Faumuina head New Zealand's medal hopes at this year's world athletics championships following confirmation of their selection yesterday.

A 10-strong team has been named for the event in Helsinki in August, but could be expanded.

Half of the team comprise marathon runners, with Liza Hunter-Galvan, Kay Ulrich and Rebecca Moore selected for the women's race and Jonathan Wyatt and Scott Winton for the men's.

However, the prime contenders will be Vili, ranked No 1 in the world this year in the shot put, and 1997 world discus champion Faumuina.

Vili has bettered the A standard for selection of 18.55m almost every time she has competed this season, and this week threw a New Zealand record of 19.52m in Rio de Janeiro. That is 68cm better than the next best in the world this year.

Vili was fifth at her only world championships appearance, in Paris two years ago.

Faumuina will be attending her fifth world championships, but has not matched her brilliant gold medal-winning performance in Athens eight years ago.

She is ranked No 2 in the world with a throw of 65.09m, just 1cm behind Natalya Sadova of Russia.

Craig Barrett has competed at the past five world championships and has been selected in the 50km road walk. His best previous placing was seventh at Seville in 1999.

Kimberley Smith, ranked second in the world this year, has been selected for the 5000m. Earlier this month the United States-based Smith set a New Zealand 10,000m record of 31m 21s.

Experienced pole vaulter Melina Hamilton has also won selection and is ranked ninth in the world.

Others in contention for selection include middle-distance runners Nick Willis, Adrian Blincoe and Jason Stewart and long-jumper Chantal Brunner.

- NZPA

Initial NZ Team

Craig Barrett (Hamilton), 50km walk; Beatrice Faumuina (Auckland), discus; Melina Hamilton (North Harbour), pole vault; Liza Hunter-Galvan (Overseas), marathon; Rebecca Moore (Canterbury, marathon; Kimberley Smith (Overseas), 5000m; Kay Ulrich (Overseas), marathon; Valerie Vili (Auckland), shot put; Scott Winton (Overseas), marathon; Jonathan Wyatt (Wellington), marathon.

Coaches: Debbie Strange, Kirsten Hellier, Graham Tattersall.