NZ's Commonwealth Games medal hopes

Sarah Ulmer

Sarah Ulmer
Women's road time trial and individual road race

Two new events for the world and Olympic 3000m individual pursuit champion.

But any notions that the switch from track riding might prove more than a bump in the road are swiftly being dismissed.

Ulmer won the World Cup race in Wellington last weekend, having won the Tour of Wellington a few days earlier. A class act and a strong gold medal chance in both. 

Nick Willis
Men's 1500m

It's fashionable to talk up any New Zealander who makes even a small impact in the middle-distance event, given the country's fine tradition, from Jack Lovelock to Peter Snell to John Walker.

But Willis, a semifinalist at the Athens Olympics two years ago, is a royal chance to at least get a medal of some hue or other in Melbourne.

He beat Australia's top hope, Craig Mottram, in Wanganui last month. The stage seems set for the University of Michigan-based Willis, at his first Commonwealth Games, to pick up the 1500m torch - and, remember, Beijing's Olympics are only two years away.

Valerie Vili
Shot put

Won bronze at last year's world championships to follow an eighth placing at the Athens Olympics. Won silver in Manchester, is clearly No 1 in the Commonwealth and No 2 on world rankings. A huge talent, who became the first New Zealander to break the 20m barrier at the national champs in Christchurch in January. Gold is beckoning. 
 
Silver Ferns
Netball

The world champions, but yet to win a Commonwealth gold. They'll start favourites in one of the feature events on the final day (and let's face it, it's Australia v New Zealand, no one else will be alive on final day). New Zealand gave the Aussies a tune up last year, winning by a record margin in Auckland.

Sure, Australia will lift themselves for the final, but coach Norma Plummer doesn't seem to be an inspiring figure. There's no Liz Ellis running the cutter in the defensive circle and that could mean a free run for Irene van Dyk under the net.

Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty
Men's triathlon

The Olympic duellists are back again and it's a reasonable bet they will both figure in the race around the St Kilda foreshore.

Carter triumphed in the heat of Athens two years ago, heading off his compatriot in one of those rare but treasured sporting moments when two New Zealanders fought for gold, with no one else in the frame over the closing stages.

Docherty is a former world champion; Carter won bronze in Manchester four years ago. Both have had days to savour. One more coming up perhaps?

Greg Henderson
Men's road race and either points race or scratch race

The defending Commonwealth points race champion, Henderson has been to three Olympics and these are his third Commonwealths.

Won the world championship gold in the scratch race two years ago, and has won eight World Cup events.

Highly experienced, strong competitor but he's mixing the road and the track, which is a tough call. Still, a strong chance for gold - somewhere. 

Rowan Brassey and Jamie Hill
Men's pair Bowls

A new pairing, Brassey providing the experience of being a two-time world champion and three-time Commonwealth medallist and Hill, 25, the youth.

Hill has had strong form on the world stage in recent times and he will lead for the old stager who is at his sixth Commonwealth Games.

They will start among the favourites for gold and probably the best chance for victory in the New Zealand bowls contingent. 

Nadine Stanton
Women's trap

The feisty Hamiltonian won a gold and silver medal at the Manchester Games four years ago and made the top six shootoff at the Athens Olympics in 2004, so there's no doubting the talent.

She got in hot water when she threw her gun away at a Waikato event late last year - a big no-no in the shooting world, even if the weapon is not loaded.

Don't be surprised if she backs up with another gold this month. 

Hannah McLean
50m, 100m, 200m backstroke

The only member of the New Zealand swim team who didn't qualify - she was injured at the wrong time - but her outstanding results at last year's world championships in Montreal ensured her selection.

She finished fifth and seventh in the 100m and 200m backstroke finals at the world champs.

She also made two finals in Manchester four years ago.

Australia fancy themselves to dominate the swimming finals, even without Mr Thorpe; Aucklander McLean has the class and talent to upset that theory, at least in a small way.