KEY POINTS:
Valerie Vili will head New Zealand's charge at the world athletics championships in Japan later this year.
Vili, ranked No 2 in the world last year in the shot put, was named today in an 11-strong team for the championships in Osaka from August 25 to September 2.
Vili is joined by discus thrower Beatrice Faumuina, marathon runners Liza Hunter-Galvan and Nina Rillstone, 3000m steeplechase runner Kate McIlroy and 5000m runner Kimberley Smith.
Commonwealth Games 1500m gold medallist Nick Willis was selected in the 1500m, along with silver medallist Tony Sargisson in the 50km walk, javelin thrower Stuart Farquhar, marathon runner Dale Warrander and 200m sprinter James Dolphin.
Additions to the team are expected to be made by August, but Vili looks New Zealand's leading medal hope.
She has competed at the last two world championships, finishing fifth in Paris in 2003 and third in Helsinki in 2005.
Last year she won the Commonwealth Games gold medal and followed that up with a second placing in the world athletic final.
It will be ten years since Faumuina won the world title in the discus throw in Athens.
Faumuina has competed in three subsequent world championships, finishing fifth in Seville in 1999, 13th in Paris in 2003 and fourth in Helsinki two year's ago.
Willis will be the men's main hope and just missed out on a place in the final of the 1500m at the 2005 Helsinki world championships, after finishing sixth in his semi-final.
- NZPA
