Athletics: Williams in a major Games bid

Christchurch hammer thrower Tasha Williams took a major step towards qualifying for the Olympic Games by bettering the target standard for a second time.

Williams cleared the 64m mark with a 64.07m throw on her third attempt to win at a pre-Australian trials meeting in Brisbane.

It follows the 64.60m New Zealand record at Arizona last month.

"It takes the pressure off a little," a delighted Williams said yesterday.

"I was feeling good and I came close on my other throws but wasn't quite catching it. Then it came together for me on the third one."

She was happy with her consistency, with throws of more than 62m a continuation of this year's form.

Williams is one of three New Zealanders who have reached their targets have but not yet been named in the Games team.

The others are long jumper Chantal Brunner and discus thrower Ian Winchester.

The official New Zealand team consists of discus thrower Beatrice Faumuina, walker Craig Barrett, high jumper Glenn Howard, sprinter Chris Donaldson and middle-distance runner Toni Hodgkinson.

A group of New Zealanders have been training and competing in Brisbane for more than a week and most will return to New Zealand after another meeting there this weekend. Their major goal is the Australian trials in Sydney from August 17 to 19.

The New Zealand Games team will then be finalised and will gather at a pre-Games camp on Queensland's Gold Coast in early September.

Faumuina was another Kiwi to impress at Brisbane, throwing 64.50m, a considerable improvement on recent form.

Sprinter Caro Hunt produced two classy times of 11.74s and 23.85s in the 100m and 200m, but did not threaten Games marks.

Hodgkinson cruised around the 1500m to finish second in 4m 09.85s.

Frith Maunder and Melina Hamilton were second in the women's long jump (6.16m) and pole vault (4m) respectively.

In the men's competition, Howard jumped a solid 2.20m to finish second, while Winchester managed 61.62m to win the discus.

Shaun Farrell was a reasonable fourth in the 800m with 1m 48.13s followed 0.29s later by Michael Calver.

Hamish Christensen showed that his recovery from illness was continuing, with 3m 43.13s for second over 1500m, while Callum Taylor clocked a sharp 21.4s in the 200m.

- NZPA