Weightlifting: NZ team buoyed by Nauru success

By SUZANNE MCFADDEN

Olivia Baker and Nigel Avery have led the way on New Zealand weightlifting's road to the Olympics - virtually writing their own tickets to Sydney.

The full-strength New Zealand team achieved their goal in Nauru on Saturday night - claiming two spots for the Olympics, one male, one female.

The men, who had to finish in the top four, were second, while the women got the third berth of three.

Baker, a 20-year-old teacher's aide from Wellington, won a gold medal for her efforts - grabbing the Oceania and Commonwealth titles in the women's superheavyweight class. Avery, who has represented New Zealand in three sports, also took gold and the region honours in the men's 105kg-plus division.

Both seem certain now to fill the Olympic places, but the team of two will not be named until after the North Island championships - a late trial - at Queen's Birthday Weekend.

Other notable performances by the New Zealanders in Nauru were Baker's younger brother Heinz, who won the Commonwealth title in the 105kg division and Rebecca Walton topping the women's 58kg class. Blanche Mackinder broke the New Zealand record in the 63kg snatch, setting a new mark of 67.5kg.

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