Athletics: Faumuina eager to get into some pre-Games action

Beatrice Faumuina

Double Commonwealth Games gold medallist Beatrice Faumuina steps into the discus circle at Bendigo tomorrow to round off preparation for the defence of the title she won in Kuala Lumpur and Manchester.

With no discus competition at Thursday night's IAAF Grand Prix meeting, Faumuina was left on the sideline, but gets her chance tomorrow with a number of other New Zealand athletes.

The meeting holds special significance for 3000m steeplechase hopes Fiona Crombie and Rebecca Forlong who are both hampered by foot injuries and will use the 2000m steeplechase as the chance to prove their fitness.

Athletics New Zealand performance manager Eric Hollingsworth left Olympic Park after the Grand Prix meeting with added confidence.

He was particularly buoyed by Stuart Farquhar's win in the javelin as he beat a high-class field which included those seen as Games medal chances.

"Stuart is now the Australian champion and a Grand Prix winner and realistically rates a very good chance," said Hollingsworth. "He threw just under 75m to win and will probably need 80m at the Games to medal. He is capable of that."

Hollingsworth was also impressed with Nick Willis' third placing in the 800m.

"He looked very comfortable," said Hollingsworth. "It was a very adequate effort on his limited speed work. Jason Stewart also looked good in finishing fifth, as did Adrian Blincoe, who ran third behind Craig Mottram over 2000m.

"On what he showed, Adrian can, without doubt, make the 1500m final."

In running into third in a fast-paced 3000m, Kate McIlroy "looked sensational" and further strengthened her steeplechase medal hopes.

Shot put star Valerie Vili was not pushed in winning - her 19.13m best almost 3m clear of the field. "She won very comfortably and, given the short time she has had here, we know she will only improve," said Hollingsworth. "Angela McKee, too, showed she is close to her best with a solid 1.85m in the high jump, which was the same height as the third placegetter. She was fifth on the countback."

With a slight concern over a tight hamstring, Matt Brown was replaced in the 4x100m relay by David Falealili who joined Chris Donaldson, James Dolphin and James Mortimer in an impressive third place effort.