Medal hopes for NZ in last weekend of Games action

Lovelock, Snell, Halberg and Walker... New Zealand has a great tradition of metric milers and tonight three athletes will attempt to extend it at Melbourne's Commonwealth Games.

Nick Willis, Paul Hamblyn and Adrian Blincoe qualified last night for the 1500m final, the first time in 16 years that has had a trio of athletes in the event at the Games.

But Willis was lucky to get there after being tripped and almost falling. Ironically it was his training partner, Canadian Kevin Sullivan, who tripped him, later apologising for almost wrecking the New Zealander's final chances.

"I almost fell flat on my face, praise the Lord I stayed on my feet," Willis said. "I managed to get up without people passing me."

Willis cruised home in the end, winning in time of three minutes 40.49 seconds to easily qualify. Blincoe was fifth in the same heat and snuck through to the final, while Hamblyn was also fifth in the heat won by finals favourite Australian Craig Mottram.

The trio will attempt to boost New Zealand's medal tally which stood at 27 this morning, comprising of four golds, 10 silvers and 13 bronzes.

As well as the 1500m runners tonight, Matt Brown, James Mortimer, James Dolphin and Chris Donaldson are in action, in the 4x100m men's relay final after going within a tick of the national record in qualifying last night.

Stuart Farquhar is rated a chance in the men's javelin final.

Last night long jumper Chantal Brunner finished a close fourth.

New Zealand is assured of at least a silver medal in two events this weekend.

In badminton, Dan Shirley and Sara Runesten Petersen are in Sunday's mixed doubles final, while two combinations, world champions Tamsyn Leevey and Shelley Kitchen and less well known pair Lara Petera and Louise Crome, contest one of the semifinals in the women's squash doubles.

Sarah Ulmer declared herself fit yesterday to ride in the women's road race on Sunday, boosting major hopes of another medal. The Olympic track pursuit champion was forced to withdraw from Tuesday's time trial because of a back injury.

The Silver Ferns play Jamaica this evening in one of today's netball semifinals, while the other is contested by England and Australia.

Trans-Tasman bitterness erupted yesterday in the men's doubles badminton quarterfinal. Geoff Bellingham, playing with Craig Cooper, was red-carded and lost a point for calling Australian opponent Ashley Behaut a "f...ing cheat".

The outburst came with their match poised at 19-19 in the third and final set. After the penalty, Brehaut and Travis Denney won the next point to take the match 21-19.

Bellingham felt Brehaut was serving illegally.

- NZPA