Athletics: World titleholder the major attraction

World champion Jana Pittman is the headline act at the national track and field championships which begin at Newtown Park in Wellington today.

The Australian won the 400m hurdles at last year's world championships in France and her presence in Wellington is a coup for New Zealand athletics.

She will race on Sunday and should provide a good gauge to Olympic hopeful Rebecca Wardell.

Another hoping to impress is sprinter David Falealili, who will learn today if he has the bragging rights to being the fastest man over 100m in New Zealand.

Among those standing in his way is his former coach and now 4x100m relay team-mate Donald MacDonald, who will be out to defend his title.

Nine New Zealanders have a good chance of making the finals, as do two Koreans and a competitor from Ireland.

At last year's championship Falealili finished second to MacDonald in the 100m event.

While this meeting is a priority for Falealili, it is not the big one that is really on the mind of the sprinter. That is the Athens Olympic Games.

Leading New Zealand athletes on show include world junior shot put champion Valerie Adams and former world discus champion Beatrice Faumuina.

- NZPA