Athletics: 'Stupid' Kimberley feeling the strain

Kimberley Smith was a despondent onlooker yesterday, her heavily-strapped left calf testimony to Friday's misadventure in the 5000m - and hoping that her self-confessed "stupid" reaction against being a "wimp" doesn't rule her out of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Smith said she felt sore in her calf from lap one of the 5km race, a race she eventually won in 15m 52.77s - well outside the 15m 06.68s she ran to qualify last year. Rounding the bend for the final time, Smith's calf went properly and she hobbled down the home straight to finish.

Asked why she didn't pull out as soon as the calf felt tight, Smith gave a self-critical assessment: "Because I'm stupid."

Athletics New Zealand high performance director Eric Hollingsworth was no doubt thinking the same thing but couched it in far more complimentary terms.

"One of her positive qualities from a sporting point of view is being stubborn. She wanted to finish the race and obviously she did that," he said. "Hopefully that didn't make any difference to how bad the injury is. But nevertheless it shows the kind of character she's got and, at the end of the day, those are the kind of athletes we're looking for."

Smith said she had few more clues yesterday as to the extent of the injury. "It feels a little bit better but it's still pretty sore," she said.

MRI scans scheduled for tomorrow should shed more light (the Achilles has not been damaged) but whatever the outcome, Smith faces a race against time before the Commonwealth Games open on March 15.

It is a cruel blow to the diminutive blonde who said she was "fitter than I've ever been" leading into the race.

She said the reason the calf gave out properly on the last lap was because she had convinced herself the injury was in her head. "I couldn't run fast the whole race," Smith said.

"I tried to run a little bit faster at the end because I thought I was being a wimp."

The pain that was etched on her face on Friday had barely dissipated yesterday, which was in stark contrast to Valerie Vili. On Friday the Aucklander threw the most outstanding series of throws in her short career, smashing her New Zealand record and passing the 20m threshold for the first time. In successive throws Vili went 19.49m, 19.77m, 20.11, 19.73, 19.71 and a staggering 20.20m.

She is an overwhelming favourite for gold in Melbourne.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY