Olympics: Two places sought in weightlifting

By DAVID LEGGAT

New Zealand weightlifting officials have their fingers crossed they will have two competitors at the Olympics in August.

By finishing second in the women's teams event and third in the men's at the Oceania championships in Suva this month, New Zealand has qualified for one spot in each event in Athens.

The sport's selectors are sifting through the information on the leading contenders before forwarding nominations to the New Zealand Olympic Committee.

The only New Zealander to win a division in Suva was Wellington lifter Olivia Baker in the 69kg event, where she set three national records, for her snatch, clean and jerk and total marks.

Baker, eighth at the Sydney Olympics four years ago, has come down a weight division from her appearance at the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002.

Her closest rival for a nomination should be Waitara's Keisha Dean Soffe in the 75-plus class. She finished second at the Oceania event.

Aucklander Grant Cavitt, another at Manchester in 2002, was second in the 94kg class. He is the most likely nominee for the men's spot.

The successful nominees are expected to have their names forwarded to the NZOC by the end of this week.

NZ had two lifters at the Sydney Games - Baker and the now-retired Nigel Avery.