Athletics: Olympic legend to support NZ team

One of the world's greatest athletes will be on hand to encourage New Zealand's track and field athletes in the days before next month's Commonwealth Games.

Double Olympic decathlon champion Daley Thompson will spend time with the New Zealand contingent at their Gold Coast base in the final countdown to Melbourne.

"Daley is due to fly to Australia in late February and is more than happy to join us for a time," said Athletics New Zealand performance director Eric Hollingsworth yesterday.

Hollingsworth - who, like Thompson represented England and Great Britain as a decathlete - has retained a long-time friendship with the 1980 and 1984 Olympic champion and invited him to join the large New Zealand athletics squad in their final preparations.

"He is happy to see the success New Zealand athletes are enjoying and is happy to be associated with the team. He would not be there if he did not think he had something to offer," said Hollingsworth.

Asked if Thompson was aware of Valerie Vili and her feats, Hollingsworth said: "Absolutely he is very aware of Valerie. He is an athletics aficionado. With what she has done she is a world star."

Thompson won the 1982 Commonwealth Games decathlon in Brisbane.

He also won the first world championship in 1983 but is best remembered for his epic 1984 victory in Los Angeles when he went head-to-head with German world recordholder, Jurgen Hingsen, winning with a world record-equalling score of 8798 points.

But Hollingsworth has a more pressing engagement today, when he meets fellow Games selectors Dave Norris, John Bowden, Ken Simpson, Barry Ellis and Brent Rollo in Auckland to make final recommendations to the New Zealand Olympic Committee. Hollingsworth will then fly to Wellington to present that list to NZOC boss Barry Maister.

After Jane Arnott's 400m victory in Australia at the weekend, 26 athletes have now attained the stipulated Commonwealth Games standards.

The selectors are expected to ratify those who have qualified, with three more 100m sprinters to join James Dolphin, Chris Donaldson and Carl Van der Speck in a six-man relay squad.

Hollingsworth says that although there might be some discussion on athletes who have gone close, including marathon runners John Henwood and Shireen Crumpton and hurdlers Nick O'Brien and James Mortimer, he expected no late additions.

"We will have suitably robust debate but my position has not wavered," he said.

"I'm happy to discuss any cases but I think we have been pretty thorough."

Once the team has been given final approval, Hollingsworth will prepare to take them to Australia for a series of meetings including a Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 9 at which it now seems certain a shot put to accommodate Vili will be included.

"In particular, I want to get as much racing as possible for the relay team," said Hollingsworth.

"There is an A series meet in Brisbane on March 3 as well as a number of other meetings around the Gold Coast."

Although he is certain Beatrice Faumuina will be in top shape for the Games despite her withdrawal as a precautionary measure after winning the discus at the Australian championships, he feels 5000m runner Kimberley Smith is no longer a chance.

She badly injured her Achilles tendon while running away with the 5000m title at the national championships 10 days ago.

"Realistically, Kim is not going to get there."

PASS MARKS

* Athletes who have reached qualifying targets

Men

* 200m: James Dolphin
* 800m: Jason Stewart
* 1500m: Nick Willis, Adrian Blincoe, Paul Hamblyn
* 10,000: Michael Aish
* 50km road walk: Craig Barrett, Tony Sargisson
* 4x100m relay (confirmed): Dolphin, Chris Donaldson, Carl Van der Speck (with three to be added)
* Javelin: Stuart Farquhar
* Decathlon: Brent Newdick

Women

* 400m: Jane Arnott
* 5000m: Kimberley Smith
* 3000m steeplechase: Kate McIlroy, Fiona Crombie, Rebecca Forlong
* Marathon: Liza Galvin-Hunter, Rebecca Moore
* Long jump: Chantal Brunner
* High jump: Angela McKee
* Pole vault: Melina Hamilton
* Shot put: Valerie Vili
* Discus: Beatrice Faumuina
* Heptathlon: Rebecca Wardell, Sarah Cowley