KEY POINTS:
World shot put champion Valerie Vili has opted to compete at a track and field meeting in Auckland and miss the Halberg Awards ceremony in Christchurch.
The Black Singlet Invitational International Association of Athletic Federations permit meeting has been scheduled for next Tuesday, the same day of the awards ceremony in which Vili is a finalist for the sportswoman of the year award.
Vili has been in good touch so far this season, throwing 19.24m in Auckland in December, 19.72m in Canberra last month and 19.66m in Hamilton last Saturday.
Her main opposition will come from former United States champion Kristin Heaston who has a personal best of 18.68m.
Also competing on Tuesday are Beatrice Faumuina in the discus who will come up against Aretha Thurmond of the US.
- NZPA
