Olympics: Team grows to Sydney 2000 size as more names added

By EUGENE BINGHAM

Nearly all the uniforms have been ordered and the flights to Athens booked: the New Zealand Olympic team is almost complete.

The 10,000m runner John Henwood, pole vaulter Melina Hamilton and 5000m runner Kimberley Smith were yesterday added to the team of five track and field athletes named in May, pushing the overall team numbers to a level which will match the Sydney contingent of four years ago.

With only two major team announcements left, and the chance for last-minute inclusion diminishing quickly, chef de mission Dave Currie almost has a full list of his charges. The final team number is expected to be around 145.

Four showjumping riders and Tab Baldwin's men's basketball team will be named in about a fortnight, and Swimming New Zealand expects to hear next week that three of its relay teams have posted times good enough for a trip to Athens also.

Henwood, of Wellington, earned his place in the team after running an "A" qualifying time and personal best of 27m 45.98s in the United States in April. Hamilton secured her trip with a 16th place at the World Indoor Championships in Budapest in March. Smith ran a personal best of 15m 09.72s in California in April to claim her place.

Several athletes, including duelling 1500m runners Nick Willis and Adrian Blincoe, are still hoping to post qualifying times before the team has to be finalised on July 21.

Hurdler Rebecca Wardell and 800m world junior finalist Jason Stewart are other hopefuls.

Meanwhile, showjumping riders will have their final chance to impress the selectors at a Nations Cup competition and Grand Prix event in Falsterbo, Sweden, on July 8-11.

Those who will be competing are Duncan McFarlane on Eezy, Bruce Goodin (Brave Heart), Daniel Meech (Diagonal), Grant Cashmore (Franklyns Flyte), Guy Thomas (NZ Madison) and Miranda Harrington (Cartier).