Athletics: Barrett mission to bury image from last Games

By DAVID LEGGAT

Think Craig Barrett and one race comes to mind.

That's undoubtedly unfair on the 30-year-old walker, who looms as one of New Zealand's best prospects for a gold medal, in the 50km walk on Tuesday.

But it's also human nature. The graphic images of his staggering collapse almost within clutching distance of the finish line of the walk in the sapping heat of Kuala Lumpur four years ago are still potent.

People with no interest in athletics recognise the name - and they know why television commercials still feature that race.

So, let's get this over with first ...

"I don't dwell on that particular race - but I sense this is a very good opportunity," he said.

"At the moment I'm the guy who didn't quite make it.

"Here I can be someone who persevered and had some success this time."

Barrett's immediate reactions after the 1998 race were twofold - anger and pride.

"Anger at myself for not being intelligent enough, or having the clarity of thought to know it was time to pull back ... I had the race won, let's just do enough to finish.

"But I balance that with the pride that I was able to take myself to levels I did not know I could, pushing the body to limits when you are basically ignoring what your body is telling you."

There were mutterings from athletics people that Barrett would be damaged goods after that experience.

"Some people had said, 'You'll never race to that level again,' and I always like little challenges like that.

"I got my highest placing at the world championships a year later and that, to me, was very important."

The Waikato man is cagey on the specifics of his preparation, restricting himself to being "happy with where my preparation is at. I'm entering the race with confidence and I've come prepared to do very well."

Barrett's toughest rival is likely to be Australian Nathan Deakes.

Ranked third in the world last year - Barrett is 16th, but second in the Commonwealth - Deakes has decided to tackle the 20km and 50km events, proving he is a tiger for punishment and a supremely confident athlete.

Victorian Deakes did the same at the Sydney Olympics, finishing sixth in 3h 47m 29s in the longer event, and eighth in the 20km.

"There are only 43 hours between the two, so he's really backing himself," Barrett said.

"I reckon 43 hours is very difficult. At 24 hours he'll be feeling great, still have an adrenalin buzz, then you start to come down.

"It will be very difficult for him.

"He's the best athlete in the Commonwealth, I'm the second best, so I've got to beat a very good athlete by using a very good race strategy."

The cobbled course on the edge of the city centre will help the athletes, and the climate will not hurt prospects of a smart time.

It is flat, over a 2km loop, and tactics, deciding when to hold and when to go, will be critical.

"It's made for fast times. Conditions will be in our favour and I'm sure whatever the race-winning time is, it will be a Commonwealth Games record," said Barrett.

He can point to a personal best of 3h 48m 05s, set in Taranaki 13 months ago.

He will not be the only New Zealander in the race.

Auckland student Tony Sargisson, 10th in Kuala Lumpur, is lining up.

But this is a sport for individuals and Barrett said it did not lend itself to putting two heads together to plan a dual tactical plan.

"The nature of the 50km walk tends to be like that. It can be a lonely sport.

"You have to have a certain persona or make-up to allow you to get through all those kilometres."

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