Athletics: Faumuina in test of form tonight

By PETER JESSUP

SYDNEY - Beatrice Faumuina will find out tonight if she is in Olympic medal-winning form when she throws against some of her Olympic competition in a warm-up contest in Brisbane.

And sprinter Chris Donaldson yesterday declared himself feeling fantastic and ready to assault his goals, one of which is to burn up the 100m in less than 10s, a feat never achieved by a European.

Faumuina has made 64.5m - close to her best - in training in Queensland, and coach Les Mills yesterday described her as "fine, and in good form" after a year in which she started well in the World Cup in South Africa, then fell off as nagging doubts and back problems seemed to get the better of her.

She has two further test meetings in Queensland before shifting down to Sydney just before the start of competition.

Her hard work is done. The routine is now maintenance training as she tapers off to allow the body time to set for the biggest effort of all.

Mills believes that Faumuina will need to throw 66m to get among the medals, and that more will be required to reel in the German world champion and favourite for the event, Franka Dietzsch.

There are six or more women, including Faumuina, who share similar distances behind the German.

Donaldson surprised himself when he set a personal best over 300m, a distance not raced at the Games but part of his training, covering it in 31.5s by himself and in the cold of Dunedin.

"It wasn't supposed to be a time trial but I was very happy when I saw that time," he said.

Can he beat 10s, something he will probably need to do to make the final, unless wind intervenes?

"Hopefully, you never know, but anything's possible. I'm feeling great and I'm here to reach my goals and that's one of them. It's been a bit cold down south so with some sunshine and others runners pushing me I think I'll do better. I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited."

Donaldson will meet some of his rivals in pre-Games sprints next Monday and Thursday, and hopes to wind up his training with a few runs down the Stadium Australia straight so he knows the starting blocks and the atmosphere of the venue.

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