Olympics: Wrestlers and discus man set for Sydney

Four more athletes - a discus thrower and three wrestlers - have met qualification standards for the Olympics.

Ian Winchester hurled a national discus record of 64.26m in Modesto, California.

Competing in the top international Modesto Relay meeting, Winchester bettered the Olympic selection standard of 63.50m, and improved on his own national record of 63.74m set a year ago in San Diego.

He was second to America's John Godina, who threw 64.70m.

Winchester's coach, Les Mills, was delighted that his charge had finally shown the form to make the Olympics.

Meanwhile, New Zealanders will compete in Greco-Roman wrestling for the first time at an Olympics after double success at the Oceania-Continental championships in Melbourne yesterday.

Hamilton's Jotham Pellow and Auckland's Rasoul Amani won their weight divisions to automatically qualify for one of the oldest disciplines in the Games, pending approval from the New Zealand Olympic Committee.

They will join freestyle wrestler Martin Liddle, of Hunua, Counties, at the Games after Liddle was unbeaten in the 54kg category on Saturday.

Pellow beat the best Oceania had to offer in the 54kg category, while Amani had to work hard to win gold in the 63kg category.

- HERALD CORRESPONDENT and NZPA

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