Athletics: Tendon tear ruptures runner's tilt at Games glory

SYDNEY - A 7cm Achilles tendon tear has all but shattered long distance runner Kimberley Smith's dream of Commonwealth Games glory.

Scans of an injured calf muscle revealed the tear after the US-based athlete struggled at the finish of the 5000m at the national championships in Christchurch last month.

Athletics New Zealand will seek a second medical opinion in Auckland this week but high performance director Eric Hollingsworth conceded Smith, a realistic medal chance in the 5000m and 10,000m in Melbourne, had little chance of recovering in time.

"Realistically there's not much chance. We're going to get another diagnosis but the Achilles is not good.

Smith, 24, may yet avoid surgery but will have to wear a supporting boot to immobilise the tendon.

The problem flared during the latter stages of Smith's 5000m victory at last month's national championships.

She limped the last 200m to the line after aggravating an injury she carried into the race.

"Not a lot of people know about her because she's based in the States but Kimberley is one of the top 15 distance runners in the world," Hollingsworth said.

"She's ranked fourth in the Commonwealth [10,000m] and in the top five in the 5000m."

Hollingsworth had brighter news on reigning Commonwealth discus champion Beatrice Faumuina, who withdrew from her event at the Australian national championships in Sydney due to a calf niggle.

"It was just a precaution. She made one throw, won the competition and left," Hollingsworth said.

Faumuina effortlessly retained her Australian title, claiming gold with a 60.30m effort that exceeded her closest challenger by almost 4m.

Wellington 3000m steeplechaser Kate McIlroy set another new New Zealand record as she honed her preparations for the Games with a bronze.

McIlroy, one of three New Zealanders to have met the qualification standards for Melbourne, bettered her previous best by 7 1/2s in finishing third in nine minutes 40.20s.

"I'm happy with that. It was nice to be pushed," said McIlroy who had a silver snatched away by late diving Tasmanian Donna MacFarlane.

Queenslander Melissa Rollison won in 9m 35.46s.

McIlroy again easily surpassed the qualifying time of 10m 05s, impressing Athletics New Zealand high

Southland sprinter Jane Arnott is being touted as a medal contender at the Games after blitzing a 400m field containing two of Australia's pinup girls, Jana Pittman and Tamsyn Lewis.

Arnott, in her last chance to crack the 52.20s qualifying time for Melbourne, set a personal best of 51.98s and pocketed a surprise gold medal.

Running for her life, Arnott surprisingly found herself leading into the home straight and powered away to stun the crowd.

"At the 300 mark I was expecting Jana to be two metres ahead when she wasn't I thought, 'Holy shit'. I just drove my legs and went for it.

"I thought it would be my last race. I was going to give it away if I didn't qualify."

Arnott had never beaten Pittman or Lewis before.

- NZPA